Podcasts about notice god

Do you feel like you're drowning in daily storms—kids, clutter, marriage struggles, health issues, or just plain exhaustion—and wondering where God is in all of it?In this raw and powerful episode, Karen Broadhead invites you to stop trying to "fix" your circumstances and instead notice. Notice what's true, what's holy, and what's still standing—especially you.Through vulnerable shares and real-life examples, this lesson uncovers the quiet power of being still in the storm, recognizing the Savior's presence in your boat, and learning the art of spiritual noticing. You'll walk away with tools to invite peace into the chaos, restore emotional clarity, and remember that asking for help isn't weakness—it's holy strength.Whether your table is buried in projects, your child is buried in struggle, or your heart is buried in fear, this episode reminds you: the miracle might already be happening. You just need to notice it.

A Scripture Meditation using Lectio Divina. How to find strength in the midst of temptation. Get your FREE Unshakable Journal here. Temptation is something we all face—sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in subtle ones. Whether it’s the urge to react in anger, reach for a harmful habit, or rely on ourselves instead of God, the struggle is real. But so is God’s faithfulness. In this Scripture meditation, we’re slowing down with 1 Corinthians 10:12–13, a passage that reminds us we’re not alone in our temptations—and that God always provides a way out. Paul’s words to the Corinthian church are full of warning, yes, but also incredible hope. This is the second episode in Unshakable: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. Each week, we’re meditating on Scriptures that help us live with strength and confidence in God’s unshakable character. In this meditation on Unshakable in Temptation, you’ll be invited to: Reflect on where you feel most vulnerable to temptation Notice God’s faithfulness and how He provides a way out Examine any pride or self-reliance you may be holding Receive the strength and grace God offers when you struggle Rest in the truth that you are not alone God sees your struggle. He offers you strength, mercy, and a way forward. Whether you’re feeling strong today or weary from the battle, may this time in Scripture renew your hope and anchor you in God’s faithfulness. Take a few deep breaths, open your heart, and let God meet you right where you are. Get your FREE Unshakable Journal here. Helpful links: Learn more about me, Jodie, at jodieniznik.com Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Find me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation + get a free Guided Journal here. Join my weekly email with links to each new meditation here. Learn about my podcast partner, Life Audio Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies The Entire meditation text is: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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In this episode of Together 4 Good, Colleen Maki sits down with Bryan Jaster to explore One Simple Tool that can transform the way we experience God in our daily lives. This tool isn't about adding more to your to-do list—it's about pausing, noticing, and listening to how God is moving in your story.Bryan walks Colleen through how this practice helps break cycles of anxiety, organize life's chaos, and recognize sacred moments—those Kairos times when God is doing something new. By learning to pause and reflect, we can respond to life in ways that bring more love, justice, and peace.In this episode, you'll discover:✔️ How to notice God's presence in everyday moments✔️ A simple tool that helps break patterns of stress and anxiety✔️ What Kairos time is and why it matters for your faith journey✔️ How listening to your life can lead to more love and justiceWhether you're seeking a way to slow down, gain clarity, or deepen your spiritual practice, this conversation will give you practical steps to recognize the sacred moments already unfolding in your life. Learn more at www.Bethany-denver.org

Sunday, February 23, 2025 The post When We Notice God Moving Are We Willing To Follow appeared first on ENCOUNTER.

Suffering believers are like a precious and valuable treasure placed in disposable container, in order to show God's power. 1. Notice God's power – Christians living with personal powerlessness, but not despair. (v.7)2. Notice God's power – suffering believers are physically squeezed, but not spiritually mis-shapen. (v.8-9)3. Notice God's power – 'the life of Jesus' at work in us, and the 'death of Jesus' in suffering believers. (v.10-11)What if your value system needed a Biblical adjustment?What is precious and valuable? Colossians 2:3Which things are worthless, which have value? 2 Timothy 2:20In comparing life and death, what do we learn? Rom. 6:11

This podcast addresses the heart of God our Father towards his children. Blessings and curses both involve words. Blessings are words that bring about good to someone. Curses are the use of words to bring harm to someone. Scripture tells us: death and life are in the power of the tongue. And those who love it will eat its fruit. Nonetheless, the first time the word "curse" is used in Scripture God is doing the cursing and he is doing it for Adam's sake. After the Fall He says "cursed be the ground for your sake". Even God's curses bring blessing to His children. Notice God did not curse the Man; He cursed the ground for the sake of the Man. As God describes Himself as being Truth and Love. Existentially Truth itself and Love itself. His perspective is always to bring about good. After all, He is a good, good Father, absolutely good. Come listen to how our understanding of the Father's love for us helps us find our calling and destiny. If we truly know and trust His love for us, why would we be jealous of anyone else? The enemy of our soul never wants us to understand who we are; who He created us to be. Our enemy wants us to be jealous just like he was jealous when God created Adam in His image and likeness. Hopefully, listening to this podcast will raise questions in your mind and encourage you to think about how you perceive yourself. Are you so focused on what other people think or you that you do not consider what the Father thinks of you? After all He who knows you the best; loves you the most. Are you bold enough to ask the question: What does my Father think of me? I pray you will do so. Papa Tom

November 16, 2024Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Bible Teacher, Novelist, and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Saturday, November 16, 2024, and this is episode #22 in Series 2024. This episode is titled, “The Truth about Healing."Recently, I was severely criticized for my position on healing. Interestingly, the criticism came not from non-Christians who don't believe in Jesus Christ, but from born-again, Christ-Followers who do. While the criticism troubled me, it troubled me for a reason other than what you might think. I wasn't at all troubled because I was criticized. Jesus warned us believers that criticism would come, and I have certainly had my share over the years. The criticism troubled me because the critics, for whatever reason, were missing out on one of the greatest blessings Jesus Christ died to give all of us. The blessing of healing and health. Whenever a question comes up about a topic, we should go first to the Word of God. The Word of God is like a referee. It alone determines the truth or error of a particular belief or belief system.So let's take a close look at what Jesus Himself said about healing. First, God makes clear in His Word that healing is in the Atonement. The Atonement is the reconciliation between God and humanity that Jesus brought about by dying on the Cross and rising from the dead. Through the Atonement, Jesus paid the price for the forgiveness of our sin and the healing of our bodies. We acknowledge this truth every time we take Holy Communion. The wine represents the Blood of Jesus that earned for us the forgiveness of our sin. The Bread represents the Body of Jesus that paid for our physical healing. Jesus died to save the whole person, not just the spiritual person. Now, God is not only able to heal us; He wants to heal us. And even more than that, He has already healed us. When Jesus took the 39 lashes on His back just before being crucified, He paid for our healing. He took our sickness and disease and, in exchange, gave us His health. Let's look closely at some Scripture verses that reveal this truth: __Matthew 8: 17 NLT - "This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, 'He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.'” Notice Jesus “took our infirmities” —our sicknesses—and “bare [or "bore" in modern English] our sicknesses” so that we would not have to bear them. __Psalm 103: 2-3 NLT - "Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." Notice: God heals ALL our diseases; not some, but ALL. Just as He forgives all of our sins, He heals all of our diseases. Imagine if we believed that God forgives only some of our sins or that He forgives the sins of only some people, but not the sins of all people. I don't know of anyone who believes in that kind of partial forgiveness of sin by God. Yet, that is exactly what we believe about healing. Why would the God Who forgives all sin heal only some sickness?We Christians sometimesdon't think straight. We don't carry their thinking to its logical conclusion but we hold on to tradition or wrong teaching without ever questioning it.Here is another Scripture verse on healing: —-Mark 11: 24 NJKV - "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."Notice: This verse instructs us to believe when we pray, not when we receive the answer to our prayer. If we believe when we pray, then we receive what we prayed for the instant we pray for it. But, the manifestation—or the showing up—of what we prayed for usually comes later. For example, I believe that I receive healing the instant I pray for it, but the healing may not show up in my body until later. Sometimes a lot later. God's will for healing is clear in the verses I cited above, and in many other verses throughout the Sacred...

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Send us a Text Message.Hmmmm... Validation and affirmation is there a difference? Is it wrong to have the desire of wanting to be affirmed? What can we do to satisfy the hunger of wanting to be noticed? Well, you can find out all of that and more in today's episode.Please join me and author Susan Hoekstra as we discuss informative highlights from her new book, A Firm Grasp. I promise you will enjoy this one!ABOUT THE GUESTSusan  Hoekstra started A FIRM GRASP Ministries to encourage others to gain a firm grasp on God's mercy, leading them to notice the way God notices.  Throughout this journey, she began songwriting, leading small groups, teaching bible studies, speaking at women's retreats, writing, and lay counseling. She has been featured in Just Between Us magazine and Christian Devotions. She is host of THE NOTICE - God stories live, and THE NOTICE podcast. Her book A FIRM GRASP - Feeling validated in a notice-me worldexplores our need for acknowledgment and approval and how the God of mercy satisfies! Sharing her diverse testimony and encouraging others towards a deeper understanding of God's mercy is her passion.You can check out Susan's Podcast HERERelated Episodes:▶︎The Other Side of Mercy ▶︎Forgiving the Nightmare ▶︎A Different Kind of DifferentLet's Connect!Rate & Review our podcast HERE Check out our website HEREWe appreciate your support ❤️Subscribe & follow us on ➡️ social mediaSupport the Show.

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.-1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. -v.35-41--2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. -v.42-44a--3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. -v.44b-49--Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised---Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body-- Phil 3-20-21-What did Jesus say about Himself-- What verb tense-- John 11-25-How does the Bible describe our inheritance-- 1 Peter 1-4

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.-1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. -v.35-41--2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. -v.42-44a--3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. -v.44b-49--Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised---Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body-- Phil 3-20-21-What did Jesus say about Himself-- What verb tense-- John 11-25-How does the Bible describe our inheritance-- 1 Peter 1-4

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. (v.35-41)2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. (v.42-44a)3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. (v.44b-49)Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised?Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body? Phil 3:20-21What did Jesus say about Himself? What verb tense? John 11:25How does the Bible describe our inheritance? 1 Peter 1:4

Blessings Follow Sanctification (3)  (audio) David Eells 6/9/24  I'm going to continue to share the great blessings we have to look forward to that follow our sanctification.   I'm going to pick up where we left off in (Isa.14:4) That thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon (DS Babylon is being destroyed.), and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! (5) The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers (This is true in the natural and spiritual.); (6) that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke (He's broken the power of the rulers to rule over their slaves. He's broken the power of the old man over the spiritual man.), that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.   Now I'd like to look at Psalm 125 because it speaks of this scepter. (Psa.125:3) For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous.... In other words, the old man is not going to rule over the spiritual man in the righteous people. And who are they? Well, it says, (1) They that trust in the Lord Are as mount Zion.... This is the Bride! The Bride trusts in the Lord. The people who walk by faith receive power from God to walk after the Lord. (1) They that trust in the Lord Are as mount Zion....   That's the Heavenly Jerusalem Paul spoke about in (Heb.12:22) But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels.. That's the Jerusalem to which the early apostles came to and we are coming back to as we escape Babylon at its destruction which we are watching in the natural.   (Psa.125:1) They that trust in the Lord Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved.... Zion cannot be moved! (Heb.12:26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. …(28) Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe. What was the kingdom that cannot be shaken? It was the Heavenly Jerusalem, Zion! It cannot be moved as those who are “well pleasing to God.” These are people who have manifested eternal life. (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. When we come into the Kingdom, we all have eternal life by faith, but the Bible tells us that eternal life is in the Son. He didn't say He gave it to you and put it in your hand; He said that eternal life is in the Son. So where can you get eternal life? You get it by abiding in the Son! When you abide in the Son, you take on His nature, character and authority. In other words, His name is in your forehead and in your hand. He is doing His works through you and your mind is the mind of the Holy Spirit. This is eternal life! Having the nature of Jesus is eternal life manifested; having the old man under your feet is eternal life manifested. Again, we have eternal life by faith, but manifesting it is bearing the fruit.   (Psa.125:2) As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the Lord is round about his people (God claims these righteous people; they are manifestly His.) From this time forth and for evermore. (3) For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity. Yes! If the dominion of wickedness is over the righteous, they will sin. The scepter represents dominion. In other words, if the spiritual man is serving the old man, then that's sin.   (Psa.125:4) Do good, O Lord, unto those that are good.... This is a simple but profound statement here, saints. God will do good to those who are good, those who have manifested His righteousness and His holiness. That's something only God can do in you, but He will do it because of your faith. (Psa.125:4) Do good, O Lord, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts. (5) But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. These people will be under the judgment of the Beast.   So the “strangers” and the “foreigners” who serve the spiritual man represent the old man, who once kept the spiritual man in bondage but now is in bondage himself in their land. Also, as we read earlier, (Isa.60:10) And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. God's favor is going to deliver us from being ruled over by the kings of this world and from being ruled over by these “foreigners” who represent the old man who serves the kings of this world. (Isa.60:11) Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night (He's talking about the Bride, Zion. He's calling His people to come within the gates of Zion, to come within salvation.); that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations....   Now we've discovered that this “wealth of the nations” is the gold, silver and precious stones, as opposed to the wood, hay and stubble of the old life. The spiritual man is what is valuable in the Kingdom; nothing physical is valuable in the Kingdom of God. The gold, silver and precious stones represent that new life, which is something that is very valuable. (Isa.60:11) Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. (12) For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The kingdoms of the world are going to be destroyed because they are going to bring to the cross God's people.   No, they won't be able to persecute the Bride, but they will be able to persecute those who haven't made it behind the broad walls of Zion. But notice this in verse 10, And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee. The foreigners who are going to build the walls of Zion is that carnal man who are slaves to the spiritual man in order to do his work. (Isa.60:4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. Spiritually-speaking, these foreigners who will bring God's sons and daughters to Zion are the carnal man. In fact, it says the foreigners will carry them. This carnal man carries the spiritual man everywhere he goes!   Now I want to point out Cyrus to you by way of an example. Even though he was a pagan king, he was used by God as a type of Himself coming as a Messiah in a worldly vessel. (Isa.44:28) That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isa.45:1) Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus (“Anointed” here is the same word for “Messiah,” or Christos in the New Testament.), whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him.... Notice God is using an anointed Messiah inside this vessel of a lost man because (1Co.15:50) ... flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God....   Even Jesus has a new body, folks. It's not the old body that He inherited through David; it's that new “born from above” body. But when Jesus walked on this earth, He was the son of David according to the flesh. Rom 1:3  concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. But His spiritual man was the Son of God.  4  who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. So the Son of man served the Son of God as it is with all sons of God. And in this instance, Cyrus was His shepherd and His anointed or Messiah. (Isa.45:13) I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. In fact, the Scripture goes on to say in, (Isa.45:15) Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. God was hiding in this type and shadow of Cyrus. Cyrus, of course, represented the outer man, who was basically unregenerate, and yet Jesus was on the inside in type as the Messiah.   And what did Cyrus do? (Ezr.1:1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, (2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (3) Whosoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem.... This is our path; we go from Babylon to Jerusalem, the Bride. And let's not stop in the cities of Judah on the way because they were conquered by the Beast, as were the cities of Israel.   The northern 10 tribes were conquered by the Beast every time.  But not Jerusalem when the Assyrians came through, for the Lord protected Jerusalem. (Ezr.1:3) Whosoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. (4) And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods.... When the Israelites were leaving their “Babylonish” captivity to go through the wilderness to their Promised Land, such a fear of the Israelites fell upon the Egyptians that they actually were plundered by the Israelites.  Now we see Cyrus plundering the beast under him to build the House of God. A foreigner was building the walls. (Exo.12:33) And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We are all dead men. (35) And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. (36) And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians. Even today, the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous (Pro 13:22). Here we see the natural man serving the spiritual man, which is the only way to go to Zion. The wicked's wealth will prepare the righteous for the coming wilderness too. Praise be to God! God is using the old man to help the new man.   Back to (Ezr.1:4) And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. (5) Then rose up the heads of fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin (Jesus, the Messiah, came and raised up the apostles to be heads of fathers' houses. Praise God! And the Man-child is going to do the same thing: the Man-child is going to raise up the heads of fathers' houses.), and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.   (Ezr.1:6) And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. (7) Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods.   Yes, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon “took captive” God's people and now God's raising up a Messiah in the likeness of sinful flesh to set God's people free. (Rom.8:3) …God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Who is ruling when you walk after the flesh? How about after the Spirit? (Ezr.1:8) Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Well, that's a type and shadow of how God can use kings, who once ruled over the people of God, to instead serve the people. And just as your flesh, your worldly, unregenerate self once ruled over you, now that same flesh serves you, carries you, brings you where you want to go, keeps the sheep, plows the field, etc. Now that same flesh serves the spiritual man. From the beginning, this outer man was meant to serve the inner man, which is the right relationship to God. The righteous are priests. The flesh serves them and the flesh is their offering. (Isa.61:7) Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion....   Do you know that God is going to supply their every need for the people who don't walk after the flesh, but walk after the spirit? Those who are in the Bride are going to be blessed, like Esther was in the king's house or like the Shulammite in the Song of Solomon, but notice the only place where they can be blessed is in their land, not in the land of bondage. What's the difference between the land of bondage and their Promised Land? Well, in the land of bondage, the flesh ruled over the spirit man, the Egyptian ruled over the Israelite. In their Promised Land, it's the other way around: the spiritual man rules over the carnal man. That's where the blessings are and that's why it's called the Promised Land, the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 33:3; Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 14:8; Deuteronomy 26:9; etc.)   So it doesn't matter if you're going through the tribulation period; what matters is who's ruling whom! (Isa.61:7) Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double (Praise the Lord! There are great benefits for sanctification.); everlasting joy shall be unto them. (Isa.61:8) For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth.... You know, you don't have to wait to go to Heaven to receive your recompense. We walk in the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth and God is going to give you all the blessings of Deuteronomy 28, if you will obey His commandments, which you can do by faith.   (Isa.61:8) For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And God has made that Covenant, but that Covenant has been broken by the people who are serving the old man. Sin broke the Covenant, so then who is it who can have this Covenant with God? Only those people in whom the old man is serving the spiritual man, they are going to have this everlasting Covenant with God.   (Isa.61:9) And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. Yes! God's people are going to have awesome testimonies of the benefits of the Kingdom! The lost world is going to see great healings, deliverances, miracles of provisions and so on for God's people because God's people are not going to be under the dominion of the Beast.   (Rev.13:10) If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. In other words, if you need to go into captivity to come to crucifixion, then that's what will happen. The Lord loves us and He's going to do what's necessary to crucify this old man. Jesus made it very, very plain: (Mat.10:39) He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. That's not unconditional eternal security; that is conditional eternal security.   Going back again to (Isa.61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.... This is the manifestation of eternal life, the manifestation of salvation. We have been planted in this earth for a purpose: we are to bear the fruit of Jesus Christ. Some people think there's no purpose. They think you just “accept” Jesus and you wait for Him to come take you away so you don't go through any trouble whatsoever, you just fly away. These are people who don't read the Bible, so they don't know what it says. We are here to manifest the salvation that He gave us by faith in the beginning. We are here to manifest, (Col.1:27) ... Christ in you, the hope of glory.   The manifestation of salvation is Jesus manifested in you 30-, 60- and 100-fold. That can't be anything other than Jesus because He said the seed is the Word of God sown by Jesus Himself. When we submit to the Word of God, the Word manifests Him in us. And we know from the New Testament that the “garments of salvation” are your works. (Rev.19:8) And it was given unto her (the Bride) that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Putting on evil works will not get you in the wedding. (Isa.61:10)…for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.... Their righteous works are their clothing! (Rom.13:14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Paul refers to Jesus as a garment), and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. The Bible says to put off the old man. (Eph.4:22) That ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; (23) and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. In other words, don't serve the old man because, if you do, you're putting on something that will not entitle you to the Kingdom.   (Isa.61:10) …, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. And what do the jewels represent? They represent the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ in you! (Isa.61:11) For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Praise be to God!   We've been sown in the earth in order to bear fruit, but the first thing this corrupt flesh does is try to put to death that seed of the Kingdom. (Gen.1:11) And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. Just as each seed brings forth after its own kind, so the Word of God brings forth Jesus Christ; He is the Word of God. The only seed you really want to plant in your heart is the Word of God because only that can bring forth Jesus Christ. And we want to manifest Jesus Christ because (Joh.3:13) ... no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.   So Christ in you, that spiritual man Who's been recreated in His image, is the only hope of glory. People want to know, “Why do Christians go through so much?” Well, Jesus said, (Joh.12:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. And glory to God! The Lord has sown the right seed in the earth to bring forth His Son and that seed is His Word. Nothing else can bring forth the Son; anything else would be antichrist. You know, “anti” has two meanings: it has the meaning of “against” and it has the meaning of “in the place of.” There are some things that look to the world to be similar to the Son, yet they're not the Son, and religions do that. They like to have something very similar but that is not so crucifying to their flesh. They like leaven in their bread.  Religion that is made after man's design, religion that doesn't involve obedience to Scripture, that is antichrist. It has taken the place of Christ. (Eze.33:7) So thou, son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (8) When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. (9) Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he turn not from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. Apostate religion is guilty of the blood of the saints because it doesn't tell the truth which sets free.  Now let's go back to Isaiah 61:10 again and look at it more closely. (Isa.61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.... What are these garments and this robe? I briefly mentioned previously that I believe this speaks about the manifestation of salvation. You know, we all have salvation by faith, but (Heb.11:1 KJV) Faith is the substance of the thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is believing for things you don't yet manifest, you don't yet see with your eyes, etc.   One of the best texts about putting on the “garments of salvation” is in Romans. As you read it, notice how the word “salvation” is used. Many people refer to salvation as only something in the past. They don't understand it's in the past because we accept by faith what was accomplished at the cross, but what was accomplished at the cross is being manifested as we walk out that faith. If you're not walking by faith, then salvation is not being manifested; you are not changing day-by-day. If you're not walking by faith, you are not coming into His image. You're not manifesting your salvation 30-, 60- and 100-fold.   (Rom.13:11) And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep (Oh, if it was true then, it's certainly true today!): for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed. These are Christians here who already have salvation and he's telling them, “Now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.” So what does he mean by that? He's talking about the fulfillment of salvation, the manifestation of salvation. When we first believed, most of our salvation was by faith and not by manifestation. But the further we go down the road of walking by faith and the more we “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,” the less our salvation is by faith and the more of it is by manifestation.   Most of the Church doesn't understand that the Lord has put us here to lose our life in order to gain our life. As Scripture tells us, we are to be (1Pe.2:1) Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (2) as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation. That's what we call “bearing fruit.” (Rom.13:12) The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness (These works of darkness are garments, too, but they're not the garments of salvation.), and let us put on the armor of light. This is the “garment of salvation.”   (Rom.13:13) Let us walk becomingly (So many people reject works, but the Christian who walks by faith will have the works of God. God puts His ability in them.), as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. (14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (So you cast off the “works of darkness” and you “put on the armor of light,” and now he tells you that the “armor of light” is the Lord Jesus Christ.), and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. There you see two garments: the garment of the works of the flesh and a garment of the works of Christ. This “garment of salvation” is very clearly putting on Christ.   I also especially like (1Ti.6:11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal.... You have to fight! Yes, you have life eternal by faith, but then you have to continue to exercise that faith. You know, life eternal can be found only in the life of Jesus Christ; there's no other eternal life out there. (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. See, you can't claim the life of Christ without abiding in the Son.   Jesus Himself said, (Joh.15:1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (Mat.7:16) By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Abiding in the Son is where this life is and you abide in Christ as you follow after these attributes of Christ.   (1Ti.6:12) Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal (You fight by using your faith to lay hold of these attributes of Christ!), whereunto thou wast called.... The word “called” is kaleo and it means “invited.” We've been invited to partake of the nature of Jesus Christ. You were called to lay hold on eternal life, but how do you do that? The first thing you have to do is accept it as a free gift by faith which (Rom.4:17) ... calleth the things that are not, as though they were. Faith is what Jesus said in, (Mar.11:24) ... All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (Greek) them, and ye shall have them. (Heb.11:1) Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.   When you claim salvation by faith, you're giving God the substance, but you don't have the evidence yet. There's no complete manifestation of it yet. Your faith is accounted as righteousness, but you have to keep walking in that faith to be accounted as righteous. And as you walk this faith out, you manifest more and more of what you're believing for, until you don't need the faith anymore because you have the full manifestation. Faith is a means to an end and the end is Jesus Christ. He is eternal life!   (1Ti.6:12) Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. What is the “good confession”? Well, you confess that you are saved! The Greek word for “salvation” is soteria and it means “all my needs supplied, ‘like a little baby.'” Soteria is salvation for your spirit, soul, body and circumstances; it covers everything. And the word for “confession” there is homologeo, which means “to speak the same thing”; in other words, to agree with what the Word says about you and what God has done for you. In the midst of the trial, you must speak in agreement with what the Word says about you. If you don't, you're not going to receive salvation in that trial.   For example, if you need a healing and you don't agree that (Isa.53:5) ... with his stripes, we are healed, then you're not going to get that healing. If you need salvation for your soul, if you need deliverance from demons, whatever your need may be, you are not going to get that part of salvation unless you come into agreement with what the Word says. Jesus is the Word and Jesus is our high priest. (Heb.4:14) Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. We need to confess Him before men so that He can present that confession as an offering before the Father; the Bible is very clear about this.  (1Ti.6:13) I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession.... And what was His confession? (Joh.18:36) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (1Ti.6:13) … and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; (14) that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus coming in the clouds. It has to do with the coming of Jesus in you! Notice: You keep the commandment until Jesus is manifested in you.   The word “appearing” here is the word Epiphaneia and it means “to shine forth from,” so this is talking about the Lord shining forth from you. You keep the commandment without spot and without reproach until the “appearing,” the Epiphaneia, of the Lord Jesus Christ in you. Jesus had the Epiphaneia. That means the One Who shined out of the son of David was the Son of God. We're going to look at this a little later, but right now I want to point out to you the Epiphaneia, this “shining forth from.” What is it that shines forth from us? Well, we have this blessing of Jesus Christ Who lives in us, but He's not manifested to the world. (2Co.4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. This light that is shining out of darkness is the manifestation of Christ in you, the manifestation of your sanctification, if you will.   (2Co.4:6) Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And the Scripture says about Jesus, (2Ti.1:9) Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, (10) but hath now been manifested (“Manifested” here is the word phaneroo from the root phaneros, and it means “to render apparent ... as opposed to what is concealed and invisible.”) by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus.... It's as if the light of Jesus Christ that's in you is shining brighter and brighter, as the Bible says. (Pro.4:18) But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.   You know, this light is actually visible in the spirit realm and, even in the physical realm, some people have seen it with their eyes. They don't realize that this glow around people is something that the Spirit is enabling them to see. And this shining becomes brighter as more and more of Jesus is manifested. (2Ti.1:10) But hath now been manifested (In other words, this “shining forth” is becoming visible.) by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus.... The word “appearing” is that same word, Epiphaneia, meaning “to shine forth from.” So Jesus had an Epiphaneia, a “shining forth” from Him when He was on the earth, and we are to keep the commandments without spot and without reproach until our Lord Jesus Christ shines out of us! Awesome! This is sanctification; this is the manifestation of our salvation.  (1Ti.6:18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate (In the Greek, this word means “share.”); (1Ti.6:19) laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. See, you don't have the manifestation of everything you're going to receive when you first come to Jesus. The manifestation of your salvation is progressive and you “lay hold on the life which is life indeed” as you come into agreement with the Word. The only people who can prove they've walked by faith are those people who have power in their life to walk away from sin. There are people who claim they have faith, but they don't have any works.   Well, James said, (Jas.2:18) Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. A person who has the works of the Lord Jesus Christ, a person who can keep the commandments as He commanded, the one whom He said loves Him, this person has grace from God to do what they're doing. And you don't receive grace without faith, so the person who has faith is the person who is walking in the steps of Jesus Christ. They are progressing, they are manifesting their salvation, they are growing in the ways of the Lord. Amen!   Before we go on, let me point out that Isaiah was speaking in the first person when he said in (Isa.61:1) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... And you may be thinking, “Well, he was talking about the coming of Jesus.” That's true, but Who was Jesus? (Rom.1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness.... Jesus was the Son of God come in a body of the son of David; that's Who Jesus was. Is Jesus coming today in His people? Of course! That's what salvation is: (Col.1:27) ... Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is Immanuel, meaning God with us. He is coming as the Word is manifested in you as you abide in Him, so Christ is being manifested in you because He is the Word!   I believe Isaiah is a type of the Man-child here because the One Who was speaking out of Isaiah is Jesus Christ, the same One Who fulfilled the first half of this prophecy 2000 years ago. (Luk.4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (20) And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. (21)  And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.  You know, Isaiah preached just before and during the time when the Assyrian Beast was coming to take God's people into captivity. He preached at a time just like today when, once again, the Beast is coming to bring God's people into captivity.   And probably some of you out there are saying, “But I'm going to escape that!” Well, I pray that you do! But I can tell you it's not going to be the way that's been taught traditionally; we're not going to fly away. What Jesus did say, however, was (Luk.21:36) But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  Now let's read on in (Isa.61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom.... In what way was Isaiah, or the Man-child, like a bridegroom? We know that Jesus was the Bridegroom, was He not? When John saw the disciples following after Jesus, he said in (Joh.3:29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.... The Son of God was manifested in the son of David. He came to minister to the people the Word of God and to raise up the Bride to walk in His steps. This is the same thing that is about to happen today. The Man-child ministry is being raised up as a fulfillment of Revelation 12. They will be the first-fruits of those in whom Jesus lives.   Jesus is going to manifest Himself in all of His holy people, but the first-fruits are going to be the first ones to fully enter into this by the grace of God. (Isa.61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland.... When the Man-child comes, the One living inside of the Man-child, the One Who is here to fellowship with the Bride, is the Bridegroom! There's going to be an exact fulfillment of what happened in Jesus' day. Jesus was Who? He was the Son of God in the Spirit, Who was in the son of David in the flesh. He is coming this time in the same way! He's coming in His people. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.   As you look into the mirror and see Jesus by faith, you'll be transformed from glory to glory into the same image. Paul said, (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. Those are words of faith and words of faith bring to pass the manifestation of that faith. Jesus is coming in His people. The Bridegroom is going to come in the Man-child and, as the Man-child speaks the Word of the Lord which is living in them, the Word of the Lord will raise up the Bride. So what the Scripture is saying here had a fulfillment in Isaiah's day, it had a fulfillment in Jesus' day and it will have a fulfillment in our day.   Let's read it again. (Isa.61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Now in what way could Isaiah, or Jesus, or the Man-child, also be the Bride? Well, according to the Word of the Lord, we're told that the Bride is the Heavenly Jerusalem. (Rev.21:9) And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (11) having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal.... See the glory; the light was shining out of her.  And Paul said, (Heb.12:18) For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest ... (22) but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. The “heavenly Jerusalem” is those people who are obediently walking as disciples of Christ, walking in sanctification and the power of God -- things that most of Christianity has totally forgotten today.   The people who lived in Jerusalem after it was taken from the Jebusites were under the dominion of King David. 2000 years ago, the “King David” of the Heavenly Jerusalem was Jesus. And today “King David” is coming again, manifested in His first-fruits leadership. This first-fruits leadership is also the “Bride” because, if the Bride is Jerusalem, and David sat on the Lord's throne in Jerusalem to rule for Him, as did David's son Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Chronicles 1:11; 2:11; 9:8), then David being in Jerusalem would make him a part of the Bride. Actually, David would be the head of the Bride. However, the Bible speaks of another prophet coming (Acts 3:22; 7:37).   You say, “But that was Jesus!” That's true, Jesus was the Man-child, but there's also another prophet coming to fulfill the exact same prophecy in our day and that prophet is going to be Jesus in His Man-child. Jesus was a part of the Bride; He was the head of the Bride. He's the head of the body, is He not? The Bride is the body who is manifesting Christ because Christ lives in his body and Christ lives in His Bride. Christ lives in anyone in whom the Word of God is manifested and being obeyed. He lives in that person and in that way there is a fulfillment of this.   Continuing on in (Isa.61:11) For as the earth bringeth forth its bud (Now we're talking about the benefits of this sanctification of Christ in you.), and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. In this day, God's people are going to be manifested before the eyes of all the nations. Jesus Christ is coming to walk in all the nations! He's going to do it in His people, beginning with His first-fruits.   They are going to do the works of Jesus Christ of 2000 years ago and they're going to pass this on to apostles, who are going to raise up the five-fold ministry. (Who are apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists.) Jesus Christ is going to walk in those apostles and then He's going to abide in that five-fold ministry, and then in all the people who receive the Word of that ministry. He is coming to manifest Himself in His body. Remember, the One Who lives in the true body of Christ is Jesus Christ! It's His body and He lives in it!   What we call the body of Christ nowadays, we have to call it by faith because we certainly can't call it by manifestation, but the Lord is going to prove the power of His salvation. Before the Tribulation is over, all the nations are going to have seen the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, (Mat.10:40) He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. The nations are going to see Jesus in the body of Christ on this earth again, but they are not necessarily going to like Him; they never liked Him before. Only those who had been given eyes to see and ears to hear liked Jesus in His body. There are many people who claim to be “Christians,” yet they mistreat Christ in His body. They persecute and they crucify Christ in His body, but still they call themselves “Christians.” And what did Jesus have to say about that? (Mat.25:40) … Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.   So now in (Isa.62:1) For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness.... This is that “shining forth from,” this Epiphaneia, this phaneroo, that we were talking about. (Isa.62:1) For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth.... Folks, we're not going to have “Christians” in name only. These are going to be Christians whom God is going to raise up! You are either going to come into the Kingdom or you're going to get out and He's not going to rest until it happens. It's going to happen before all the nations, not just up in Heaven somewhere!   There wasn't any chapter break there in the original; it just went right on, so He's talking about doing this before all the nations. People are lying when they tell you you're never going to manifest righteousness until you get to Heaven. If you wait until then, you have waited too late! We are sown in this earth to bear the fruit while we're on this earth. These plants are growing up out of this dirt right here, folks. If all you're doing is just waiting around because you're listening to that apostate doctrine of “accept Jesus and you'll fly away one day,” you've been lied to! Read the Word of God for yourself!   (Isa.62:1) For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth. (Glory to God!) (2) And the nations shall see thy righteousness (That doesn't sound like God's going to wait until you fly away to Heaven to save you, for goodness' sake!), and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. He said that this righteousness would “go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth.” What is this “glory,” this “brightness,” this “lamp that burneth”? He said that kings would see “thy glory.” What is this talking about? Well, it's right here: (Col.3:4) When Christ, who is our life.... The life of the Christian is Christ Himself because we're just His body. The life inside of us has to be His life and, if you don't believe you're supposed to have the life of Christ, the very life that we read about in the Scriptures, then you're living in apostate Christianity.   (Col.3:4) When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested (The word here is phaneroo and remember it means “to render apparent ... as opposed to what is concealed and invisible.” This is talking about Christ becoming more and more visible and shining out of you; He is the glory that “all kings” are going to see.), then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. So when Christ is manifested in you, you're going to be manifested in glory! What's shining out of the saints that “all kings” are going to see is the glory of Christ! It is the life of Christ!   Peter also spoke about this “caused to shine” and “made visible.” (2Pe.1:19) And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp (There it is, the “lamp that burneth”.) shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. “Day-star” is an archaic term for the sun, which is also a parable of the Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is the lamp, Christ is the Day-star shining brighter and brighter in the dark places of your heart! (Pro.4:18) But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light.... The dawning light comes up higher and higher until it's straight overhead, until all the shadows have been destroyed and there's nothing but brightness everywhere, and that's what he says happens in your heart.   This is the “shining forth” that Paul's speaking about when he says, (Col.1:27) To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. There's no other “hope of glory”; Christ in you is the glory. (Col.3:4) When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye (He's talking about you.) also with him be manifested in glory.   (2Co.4:6) Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. “In the face of Jesus Christ” is the only way you can receive it because it's by faith that you behold “in a mirror the glory of the Lord.” (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. You see that by faith with the imagination of your renewed mind (Ephesians 4:23) and, as you do that, you are transformed into that same image! In other words, what you see by faith is going to come to pass “from glory to glory.”   And Paul goes on to say, (2Co.4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. (11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested (That's the word Phaneroo again.) in our mortal flesh. Notice: That is this body, not the new body. Those apostate preachers are lying when they say that you won't be perfected until you get to Heaven. We are bearing the fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold here, and that's what Jesus said in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8).   So, the manifestation of the life of Christ in our mortal flesh is that light of the Son shining forth out of us, brighter and brighter, until the perfect day! (Pro.4:18) But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. This is God's plan, even though it's been short-circuited by apostate religion teaching doctrines of demons that are not in the Bible. We've been lied to and robbed of God's glory. Many people who think that they're Christians are not growing up in Christ and bringing forth His fruit. But God says He's not going to rest until all of the nation's see Christ manifested in His people. Don't be left out.  Again in (Isa.62:1) For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth. (2) And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory.... Wow! This happened in Jesus' day on a lesser scale, when Jesus was the body of Christ, and He was also a type and shadow for the body of Christ in our day, as we come out of the dark ages of Christianity. The whole world is going to see the power of His salvation in His people and it may make the Pharisees just as angry as when they saw Jesus the first time.  (Isa.62:2) And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. By what name is this glorious people, in whom Jesus lives, going to be called? It couldn't be anything other than the name of His Son! (Col.3:17) And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Does that mean we just say the name? No. Whatsoever we do, in word or in deed, we are to do it in the nature, character and authority of Christ. The word for “name” is onoma in the New Testament and shem in the Old Testament, but they both have the same meaning, which is the “nature, character and authority” of a person or thing. The people of Shem, the Shemites, were the people of God; they were the people of the name.   Different languages have different names for Jesus, but are you being filled with His name? Is His name being manifested in you? (Rev.2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh (You have to be an overcomer.), to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. The word for “knoweth” there is ginosko and it means “to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize … or to understand completely.” Ginosko “frequently indicates a relation between the person ‘knowing' and the object known ... hence the establishment of a relationship.” Who knows the name of the Lord? The people who have the name of the Lord, the people who live in the name of the Lord, these are the people who know the name of the Lord.   Jesus knew righteousness. He knew the name of the Lord, but the Pharisees and the Sadducees didn't know the name of the Lord. They could only speak the title given to their Old Testament God because they didn't know His nature, character and authority. They didn't know Him. (Act.13:27) For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled [them] by condemning [him]. Only someone who is living in the name of the Lord, only someone in whom the name of the Lord is being manifested, can know the name of the Lord. In other words, only the “overcomers” can know the name.   (Rev.3:10) Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. We've already seen how God will keep those in the holy city Zion, in Jerusalem, from the “hour of trial,” just as in Esther. In the book of Esther, the bride was safe in the king's house while the rest of God's people were going through great tribulation. (Rev.3:11) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. (12) He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more.... I'm afraid a lot of Christian activity is in and out, and in and out. One day you're abiding in Christ, you're abiding in the Temple, and then the next day you're out there in the world, living in the flesh.   But the person who overcomes will live in the Temple of God in God's presence all the time. (Rev.3:12) He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. Now is this someone who has names written all over them? No, it's not meant to be taken literally. This is talking about the Bride taking on the name: the nature, character and authority of the Bridegroom! This is talking about God manifesting the name in them.   Jesus said, (Joh.17:6) I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. When did Jesus ever mention the Old Testament name or title of God? He never did. He called Him “Father.” His people will call Him “Father.” (Jer.3:4) Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth? Jesus revealed the name in His actions. (Joh.14:9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? The name that He revealed to people was the nature, character and authority of the Father.   And so it is today! We are ambassadors for Christ. We are to represent Him to the world. Revelation speaks about the name of the Beast in (Rev.13:16) And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; (17) and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.  And then, right after that, Revelation speaks about the name of the Lord. (Rev.14:1) And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand. (This is the first-fruits Man-child ministry.), having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. He just got through talking about the name of the Beast being written on the foreheads of the Beast people. I don't think you're ever going to see either mark physically, so you have to take this spiritually. Revelation is not talking about the name of Jesus and the name of His Father written on the forehead, but about the nature, character and authority of the mind and works of Christ being manifested in the mind of God's people.   As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us, (Mat.28:19) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name.... The numeric pattern and the ancient manuscripts all say “into,” “baptizing them into the name,” although most translations read “baptizing them in the name.” But you see, it's not about speaking a name over somebody. It's not saying any magic words over somebody. (Mat.28:19) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Did you notice the way the word “name” is being used here? Any English teacher would tell you that this is talking about one name for all three! This has nothing to do with the oneness or twoness or trinity doctrines, but it does have to do with unity. Since the Greek word onoma means “nature, character and authority,” this is the nature, character and authority of “the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”   Jesus said He came in His Father's name and onoma means “nature, character and authority,” not “title”! Therefore, when you're baptized into the name, you're putting on the name: the nature, character and authority of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is also the Name or nature, character, and authority of Jesus. Both of these babtisms are mentioned in the word because it's the same name or nature. (Rom.13:14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism is for the death of the old man and the resurrection of the new man. When you are baptized, Paul's confession should be your confession: (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.   God gave Himself for us. When you're baptized, you don't live anymore; Christ lives in you, so you have His name by faith! You are baptized into His nature, character and authority, which is why Paul tells us that when we look in a mirror, we see Jesus: (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. That's the Gospel! We don't live anymore; Christ lives in us. We accept by faith that His name is manifested in us.   We are warned, (Exo.20:7) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Why did He say that to His people? Was He talking about cursing? No, that has nothing whatsoever to do with using His name in profanity. It has to do with a person taking on His name for nothing, for naught. It has to do with a person taking on His name but not manifesting His name. We, as Christians, take on His name when we're baptized because the old man's dead and the new man lives. And the new man is (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. Therefore, you are taking on His name, but the Christian who doesn't bear any fruit is taking the name of the Lord in vain. It's talking about you not living up to the name!   What does the Lord say about those who take His name in vain? (Rev.3:1) … I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. This is a person who has taken the name for nothing. His name is not going to be manifested in them because they have no faith. Remember what James said: (Jas.2:18) Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. Everyone who has faith is going to be manifesting Jesus Christ the further they walk down that road. Everyone! Those who merely say they believe, but who are not manifesting Jesus Christ, are not putting the old man to death so that the new man can come to life. What they have is not faith! They're not beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord.   They choose to think that they manifested salvation when they stepped into the Kingdom and were given a new spirit. They're not concerned about manifesting that spirit in their soul, which is their mind, will and emotions. God demands that we don't take His name in vain. We have to bear the fruit of Christ. “Christian” means “Christ-like.”   God expects us to walk by faith in Him to manifest Jesus Christ in us, but dead religion and dead preachers of dead religion have been short-circuiting this wonderful thing God wants to do. What does the Lord say He's going to do? It's awesome! In front of all the nations (Isaiah 62:1-2), He's going to manifest the glory of Jesus Christ in His people. All the nations are going to see Jesus walk this earth again in corporate body of flesh. (Rom.8:3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. And God has a people who are doing the same thing; they are condemning sin in the flesh. They are walking in the likeness of sinful flesh, but the One Who's coming to life in them is Jesus Christ. He's shining forth from them brighter and brighter!   These are the people who have faith. They are the ones we call “believers”! Remember, it was the pagans who first called the followers of Christ “Christians” because they did the works of and had the fruit of Jesus Christ. “Christian” was a compliment that they gave to people whom God called “disciples” and “believers.” Believers have fruit! All believers have fruit! Disciples have fruit! All disciples have fruit! But not everybody called “Christian” is a Christian, nor has everybody called “Christian” borne any fruit. A “disciple” is “a learner and a follower,” a mathetes; they follow in the steps of Jesus. And a “believer” is somebody who is going to receive grace because of their faith.   (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them. So we are being created to do the works of Jesus Christ. (Joh.14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. That's what Jesus said; therefore, the people who really believe will be seen to be the people who do His works, keep His commandments and so on. Is it by their power? Not at all. It's by His power because God gives grace to those who believe. Grace is God's favor to walk above sin, to be overcomers. All of the promises in the Book of Revelation are only to the overcomers. And how were they able to overcome? They were able to overcome because God gave them grace and faith to believe. 

Grace is one of the most beautiful gifts that came through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, it's often misunderstood and difficult to explain. Before we can notice God's abundant grace in our daily lives, we must first understand what it is. - Kristine Brown SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: The Crosswalk Devotional: https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-devotionalYour Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Planet X / Asteroid and Effects (2) (audio) David Eells 5/17/24 (David's notes in red where applicable) Please follow along these updates as things unfolded. Please notice what would have happened except for the mercy, grace and Love of God that has just been revealed. For that I am very happy. We are going to cover, what was, would have been, and will be. (Note: I was told by the Lord not to warn of this until told to.) I was shown by the Lord on 3-27-24 that: *”An asteroid will show up beside the Sun on 4-15-24.” (President Trump, Whom we were in contact with, said their astronomers confirmed this came to pass.) *”The asteroid will be 10 days ahead of Planet X - Nibiru.” *”Planet X will show up beside the Sun 4-25-24” (because it is front and side lighted by the Sun). “It will show best at 4pm EDT and it will look like a star on the left side of the Sun.” (Moments after that time we saw it.) (On 4-25-24: Michael and I had one pair of these paper and plastic eclipse glasses passing them back and forth. We saw the same thing at the 8 o'clock position on the Sun and very close to the Sun but we think we were only seeing the half of it that was facing the Sun because it was lighted. I have heard that infrared would show the whole thing. At one point I could barely see 3 very small dots positioned on the face and edge of the Sun in a semicircle facing this thing at the 8 o'clock position. I thought it could be orbitals or moons of P-X, which we have had dreams of. They soon disappeared as they moved and were no longer in front of the Sun. President Trump was watching too as He spoke with us.  He said their astronomers said, “It is there”.  I asked President Trump if he would try to get us professional pictures and He said he would try. After leaving the Sun it will be hard to see until its closer and far bigger to our view. Possibly because infrared is needed to see it in space.) The Lord said, “The powers that be will attempt to cloud up the sky but the angels will sweep the clouds away.” (This is exactly what happened as we all watched.) The Sun was clear and distinct, like I haven't seen it in a long time, and it was with clear sky. Usually it's so diffused with the garbage they spray in our atmosphere you can't make it out. Shortly after we saw what we did the clouds moved back in.) So we could have just got our 40 day warning like Jonah, who said, “In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed.” We will revisit this later. *”The asteroid will hit earth 40 days from first sighting on 5-25-24.” (This is the same day years ago, 5-25, that Virginia Boldea saw 3 pieces hit the earth in her revelation.) *”Planet X will fly by earth 40 days after the first sighting on 6-4-24, hence a 40 day warning.” *Update: The Lord said, “P-X would eventually fly 10 times faster than earth does in its orbit.”  However this is very slow for P-X. The Lord said, “When P-X was attempting to leave the Sun, its gravity was pulling it back causing it to begin to slow down. The Lord said, “It is not escaping the gravity but will turn and fall into orbit around the Sun.” So P-X is leaving its orbital plane and joining the Sun's orbitals plane. Later He said, “The orbit will be between Earth and Venus.” I asked President Trump if his astronomers see that P-X was turning to fall into orbit. He said, “Yes, it is.”  I asked the Lord if the timings we were given at the first will still be right and He said, “Yes.” So it could orbit the Sun once at a greater speed and will come up 10 days behind the asteroid as P-X affects the earth. I believe P-X is constantly slowing down and eventually would settle into orbit, as the Lord said, at a speed of 10 times that of earth, Which would make an orbit in approximately 36 ½  days. It would orbit the Sun many times for 3 ½  years of the Tribulation. The Dragon beast lasted for 3 ½ years of the tribulation. Could the P-X Dragon do the same? Before God's mercy and grace just revealed I believe so. The Damage Has Been Seen The Lord said, “This is a direct result of P-X.” Indeed, P-X was passing by in orbit when this erupted.  Fri. 10 May 2024 Catastrophic Solar Storm Threatens Earth: The Biggest Solar Storm in Years Approaches, Threatening Our Electric World! Disruptions to Mobile Phones, GPS, and Power Systems Nationwide expected. (NOAA) has issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch, the first since 2005 Geomagnetic Storm upgraded to G5 - the strongest level available and the first G5 level storm to strike Earth since October 2003. The most powerful solar storm in the  last two decades recently hit Earth. This event was caused by a group of sunspots about 16  times the size of Earth. They released several X-class solar flares and coronal mass ejections directly toward our planet. These solar emissions led to severe geomagnetic storms, ranked at the highest intensity level of G5, marking the most intense storms since the 2003 Halloween storms. Elon Musk noted that the Starlink satellite service was experiencing issues due to the storm. He wrote on the social platform X that its satellites were "under a lot of pressure but holding up so far." The storms also disrupted power grids, GPS systems, and high-frequency communications in certain areas. These events suggest that the solar maximum, a period of peak solar activity in the Sun's 11-year cycle, might arrive earlier than anticipated. As the Sun's magnetic field flips, we can expect more geomagnetic storms in the coming months. They could further disrupt radio  communications and electrical infrastructure. The reason behind the recent solar storm is the sunspot group named AR 3664. … The AR 3664 cluster rotated  into view of Earth a few days ago. At that time, it looked fairly normal. But then, it grew quickly to become 16.times as wide as our planet. Spanning 200,000  km or 125,000 miles, it became one of the largest sunspots of the current solar cycle. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued warnings of increased solar flare risk from AR  3664 at the beginning of the month. AR 3664 emitted a total of 75 M-class flares and 10 X-class flares within a week, accounting  for 50% of the X-class flares this year. ..     Geomagnetic storms can have significant  impacts on our electrical power grids and satellite infrastructure. … This can cause transformers to become saturated and overheat. Specifically, transformers may fail. In severe cases, these issues can result in large-scale blackouts. … In 2022, a flare from the Sun resulted in the loss  of 40 newly launched Starlink satellites. Currently, the sunspot group known as AR 3664 has moved behind the Sun's disk, (May 11th) making it temporarily invisible from Earth. This means that any solar emissions from this group will not affect our planet for the next two weeks. Based on past behaviors observed in sunspots, there is a possibility that this group could remain active once it becomes visible again. Just before it rotated out of view, on May 11, AR 3664 produced significant solar activity, including …  a much larger X 5.8 flare, the latter of which was associated with a CME. This activity suggests that AR 3664 could still produce more solar flares in the future and indicates that its cycle of activity isn't over yet.   AR 3664 is no ordinary sunspot. It's so big that it can be seen from Earth without magnification. The size of AR 3664 is comparable to the sunspot that caused the Carrington Event in 1859…   From history & science of P-X what COULD happen? *It could cause extreme earthquakes and tsunamis to cross America and the world, CME's, all of which we have been warned of. *It could cause an earth tide and slip the crust on the mantle which could bring earthquakes around the world as it turns before this extreme gravitational planet. *It could draw the South Pole towards it pointing the northern hemisphere into darkness for a few days. *It could slow earth's rotation causing the equatorial waters to rush north and south. This is because the earth spins at over 1000 mph causing a bulge at the equator. The 13+ miles of extra feet of earth and water held at the equator would flood the earth. *Earth's orbit would eventually bring it through Planet X's tail as it leaves, which is full of asteroids, meteorites and boulders and this would cause fireballs to rain on earth for about an hour or more depending on the angle of departure. (I am not an astronomer, as you can see, and I claim no titles, I just want to obey the Lord, and for people to be spared to be a part of the coming revival in tribulation and I know this will now happen. I will explain.) *President Trump confirmed that these specific dates are within the boundaries of the government astronomers calculations, which I did not know. *The first confirmation by President Trump, was that the asteroid did appear by the Sun on 4-15-24, as I told him it would. *He agreed that if the 10 days between the Asteroid and Planet X were correct, that Planet X would show up next to the Sun on 4-25-24. The Lord said, “It will look like a star on the left side of the sun,” and a very huge Sun it is. As we saw, It showed up, confirmed by his astronomers! *We have received many dreams that an asteroid would enter the atmosphere and break into 3 pieces. One piece will hit the North American Plate's southern boundary, causing a huge slip fault, which could shake the United States fault lines loose. P-X is only 10 days behind this and would be adding to the earthquake, volcanic, CME, and tsunami troubles. *Our dreams, which were five, have said that an East Coast Faultline that goes from New York through Washington DC, to Alabama to the Gulf will be the first to quake, then to the New Madrid fault to split the country and dump the Great Lakes. Then it will go out to the West Coast and simultaneously back to Tennessee. *Dreams and revelations can be delayed by repentance as it was with Nineveh or just for a plea of Mercy as it was with Amos. At any rate, those who repent will be spared. Reasonable Comments: *Do not move by fear of this revelation. Fear is faith in reverse. Fear only God. Seek the Lord for His directions for you and trust Him. *Angels would remove some people from dangerous areas. We would see water in places never before seen in our lifetime. Seek high ground as the Lord leads. The Military used to advise their retirees to settle at least 400 feet above sea level. *People should be gone from the East Coast, Gulf Coast, New Madrid Zone, Mississippi River Valley, and the West Coast before 5-25-24! Don't wait until there is a bottle neck or you won't get out. I have seen many sit through hurricanes stuck in their vehicles on the interstate because they waited too late to leave the Gulf Coast. Tsunami's are far more deadly. I-95 bridge and Galveston bridge were destroyed, being prepared as a death trap for those waiting too late, as the Lord revealed to others. * Those of you on the West Coast of Africa and Europe; beware of tsunami's. God will use these two catastrophes to judge the wicked! (Make sure you are not one of them.) Confess your sins according to (1Jn 1:9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Ask the Lord to save you and fill you with His Holy Spirit. The Man-child reformer ministry is coming to lead us through the wilderness created by these things.   Ancient History of Planet X   The Kolbrin Bible - 21st Century Master Edition - (Thanks to Marshall Masters for letting us read from the Kolbrin) Comprised of 11 books, the first 6 were written by Egyptian academics and scribes after the Exodus. The five remaining books were penned by the Celtic priests of early Britain after the death of Jesus. (What we see in these historic writings is a flyby which is worse than an orbit passing. Flyby is the last encounter before P-X goes back into outer space. We are already seeing God's mercy, Nineveh.) Egyptian Historians {Manuscripts 3:1} Men forget the days of the Destroyer. Only the wise know where it went and that it will return in its appointed hour. {2} ... It was as a billowing cloud of smoke enwrapped in a ruddy glow, not distinguishable in joint or limb. Its mouth was an abyss from which came flame, smoke and hot cinders. {3} When ages pass, certain laws operate upon the stars in the Heavens. Their ways change; there is movement and restlessness, they are no longer constant and a great light appears redly in the skies. {4} When blood drops upon the Earth, the Destroyer will appear, and mountains will open up and belch forth fire and ashes. Trees will be destroyed and all living things engulfed. Waters will be swallowed up by the land, and seas will boil. ... {6} The people will scatter in madness. They will hear the trumpet and battle-cry (It makes noise) of the DESTROYER and will seek refuge within dens in the Earth. Terror will eat away their hearts, and their courage will flow from them like water from a broken pitcher. They will be eaten up in the flames of wrath and consumed by the breath of the DESTROYER. ... {9} ...the hour of the DESTROYER is at hand. {10} In those days, men will have the Great Book before them [upon its return], wisdom will be revealed, the few will be gathered for the stand, it is the hour of trial. The dauntless ones (the stouthearted) will survive ... {Manuscripts 5:1} ... IT TWISTED ABOUT ITSELF LIKE A COIL ... It was not a great comet or a loosened star, being more like a fiery body of flame. ... {4} This was the aspect of the DOOMSHAPE called the DESTROYER, when it appeared in days long gone by, in olden times... {5} The DOOMSHAPE is like a circling ball of flame which scatters small fiery offspring in its train. It covers about a fifth part of the sky and sends writhing, snakelike fingers down to Earth ... {Manuscripts 6:1} THE DARK DAYS BEGAN WITH THE LAST VISITATION OF THE DESTROYER ... foretold by strange omens in the skies... {3} These were days of ominous calm, when the people waited for they knew not what ... {5} The days of stillness were followed by a time when the noise of trumpeting and shrilling was heard in the Heavens ... {6} The people spoke of the god of the slaves (The Hebrews at the Passover, Red Sea, etc.)... His manifestation was in the Heavens for all men to see, but they did not see with understanding ... {11} Dust and smoke clouds darkened the sky and colored the waters upon which they fell with a bloody hue. Plague was throughout the land, the river was bloody and blood was everywhere [red ash mixed with water]. {12} In the glow of the DESTROYER the Earth was filled with redness. Vermin bred and filled the air and face of the Earth with loathsomeness. {13} ... THE FACE OF THE LAND WAS BATTERED AND DEVASTATED BY A HAIL OF STONES WHICH SMASHED DOWN ALL THAT STOOD IN THE PATH OF THE TORRENT ... {Manuscripts 6:14} The fish of the river died in the polluted waters; worms, insects and reptiles sprang up from the Earth in huge numbers. Great gusts of wind brought swarms of locusts which covered the sky ... {15} The darkness was not the clean blackness of night, but a thick darkness in which the breath of men was stopped in their throats. Men gasped in a hot cloud of vapor which enveloped all the land and snuffed out all lamps and fires ... {16} The Earth turned over [during a pole shift], as clay spun upon a potter's wheel. The whole land was filled with uproar from the thunder of the DESTROYER ... {19} On the great night of the DESTROYER's wrath ... there was a hail of rocks ... {21} The land writhed under the wrath of the DESTROYER and groaned with the agony of Egypt. It shook itself ... {22} There were nine days of darkness and upheaval, while a tempest raged such as never had been known before ... {24} The slaves spared by the DESTROYER left the accursed land forthwith. Many Egyptians attached themselves to the host, for one who was great led them forth, a priest prince (Moses) of the inner courtyard. {25} Fire mounted up on high and its burning left with the enemies of Egypt. It rose up from the ground as a fountain and hung as a curtain in the sky. {26} In seven days, by Remwar the accursed ones journeyed to the waters. (Seven days is accurate to the Red Sea) They crossed the heaving wilderness while the hills melted around them; above, the skies were torn with lightning ... {28} Pharaoh had gathered his army and followed the slaves ... {30} The host of Pharaoh came upon the slaves by the saltwater shores, but was held back from them by a breath of fire. A great cloud was spread over the hosts and darkened the sky …{31} A whirlwind arose in the East and swept over the encamped hosts ... There was a strange silence and then, in the gloom, it was seen that the waters had parted, leaving a passage between ... {32} The slaves had been making sacrifices in despair ... Then, in exaltation, their leader [Moses] led them into the midst of the waters through the confusion ... {35} Then the fury departed and there was silence ... the captains went forward and the host rose up behind them ... Pharaoh fought against the hindmost of the slaves ... {37} ... The Heavens roared as with a thousand thunders, the bowels of the Earth were sundered and Earth shrieked its agony... The dry ground fell beneath the waters and great waves broke upon the shore …{38} The great surge of rocks and waters overwhelmed the chariots of the Egyptians who went before the footmen. ... {39} Tidings of the disaster came back by Rageb, son of Thomat, who hastened on ahead of the terrified survivors because of his burning ... {40} The broken land lay helpless and invaders came out of the gloom like carrion ... {46} ... The air was purified, the breath of the DESTROYER passed away and the land became filled again with growing things... {Gleanings 6:30} ... One hundred generations had passed since the overwhelming deluge and ten generations since The DESTROYER last appeared. {Creation 3:2} ...God caused a [celestial] DRAGON from out of Heaven to come and encompass her about ... The seas were loosened from their cradles and rose up, pouring across the land [creating giant tsunamis] ... {3} Men, stricken with terror, went mad at the awful sight in the Heavens. The breath was sucked from their bodies and they were burnt with a strange ash. {4} Then it passed, leaving Earth enwrapped within a dark and glowering mantle, which was ruddily lit up inside. The bowels of the Earth were torn open in great writhing upheavals ... {5} The Earth vomited forth great gusts of foul breath from awful mouths opening up in the midst of the land. The evil breath bit at the throat before it drove men mad and killed them ... {8} ... only sky boulders and red earth remained where once they were but amidst all the desolation a few survived, for man is not easily destroyed ... {10} Then the great canopy of dust and cloud, which encompassed the Earth, enshrouding it in heavy darkness, was pierced by ruddy light, and the canopy swept down in great cloudbursts and raging storm-waters ... {11} When the light of the sun pierced the Earth's shroud ... The foul air was purified and new air clothed the REBORN EARTH, shielding her from the dark hostile void of Heaven. {12} The rainstorms ceased to beat upon the faces of the land and the waters stilled their turmoil. Earthquakes no longer tore the Earth open, nor was it burned and buried by hot rocks ... {13} The waters were purified, the sediment sank and life increased in abundance ... The sun was not as it had been and a moon had been taken away ... {14} Man found the NEW EARTH firm and the Heavens fixed. He rejoiced but also feared, for he lived in dread that the Heavens would again bring forth monsters and crash about him. {15} When men came forth from their hiding places and refuges, the world their fathers had known was gone forever. The face of the land was changed...when the structure of Heaven collapsed ... {Creation 4:5} Then ... God caused a sign to appear in the Heavens, so that men should know the Earth would be afflicted, and the sign was a STRANGE STAR. {6} THE STAR grew and waxed to a great brightness and was awesome to behold. IT PUT FORTH HORNS and sang, being unlike any other ever seen ... {Scrolls 33:12} Great Mistress of the stars, let us abide in peace, for we fear the REVELATION OF YOUR HORNS ... {Origins 8:3} ... THEY WORSHIPPED IN ERROR, THE MALIGNANT HORNED STAR AND HER ESCORTS ... In his 1999 book Exodus to Arthur, Mike Ballie {wrote} "... Lydus, was in the opinion that if the Earth ever again ran into Typhon, the former would be destroyed in the encounter ... there were close associations between the plagues of the Exodus and the phenomena associated with Typhon". Typhon was the Destroyer of the Exodus. Yes; during its last fly-by, Typhon affected Earth by nudging it into a slightly larger orbit around the sun.... So, five days had to be added to the calendar! ... (Which he points out was commonly 360 days as it was with the Hebrews) The Destroyer was known as...: 'Nibiru' by the Sumerians 'Destroyer' by the Egyptians and Hebrews 'Phaeton' by the Greeks 'Typhon' by Pliny 'Frightener' by the Celts Did you notice this: “Lydus, was in the opinion that if the Earth ever again ran into Typhon, the former would be destroyed in the encounter.”  The Earth would be destroyed? But the earth has to have a Tribulation to manifest the sons of God. Accordingly, The Lord just said to me, “I will destroy both P-X and the asteroid.” I was told “The asteroid will veer off into space. P-X will not make the first complete orbit to return.” I don't know how this would happen. Would it dive into the Sun or would solar flares and CME's take it out??   Let me share with you what brought us to this point. After Planet X / Asteroid and Effects (1), I was somewhat grieved that we tried but were not able to reach the people in harm's way, especially the Islands and coasts with this warning. No doubt some on our e-list reached relatives and friends but most would not listen or consider this sort of thing, which is normal lost human behavior. These are the people we want to live to see the wonderful revival about to start.   The Lord had just given me a teaching of Abraham interceding for Lot and family when the angels came to Sodom to bring them out so God could destroy the evil sodomites of the plain. God heard Abraham's request because of his friendship and reasoning of justice for the few righteous, so God had mercy. Also the angels were going to destroy Zoar like all the rest of the cities and for the same reason. But God had mercy on those pagans for the sake of Lot's little family going there.   Everyone wonders why did all of the Assyrians listen to Jonah, a Jew, when they had a different God and were enemies of the Jews. Some have the theory that when they looked up they saw P-X come up beside the Sun, and it was 40 days away, so they believed Jonah when he said, “In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed.   The President had the military spread out to defend about 300 to 360 cities from the anarchists. And they are spread all over the world fighting the DS rulers. They would be needed to do evacuations and many would not cooperate to leave. He considered Tucker getting the Word out but he still would have to stop the war at a very bad time. But God ultimately brought the only solution.   In part (1) I heard that the President would back off from the GCR redistribution of wealth because the money would be needed to restore vital services after P-X and the asteroid came through. When I spoke to him of this he confirmed it. And immediately the GCR went on the back burner. Then more recently after the update above, which movements were confirmed by the President's Astronomers, the GCR got hot again. So I asked the Lord what happened and he said, “I took P-X out of his mind.” So I contacted him and he told me the same thing with the same words. President Trump said, “David I don't know what happened, P-X was just taken out of my mind.” So when I questioned the Lord He said, “I will destroy both P-X and the asteroid.”   Jonah said for God, “In 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed,” but it wasn't. Amos had the same experience with God. The people repented and God had mercy. Years ago in a vivid dream I saw myself standing over the Gulf of Mexico looking down on the U.S. whose borders had sides like a swimming pool. The inside was full of water with fish swimming everywhere. I looked up Nineveh which was the head of the Assyrian Beast Empire which matched the U.S. being the head of the world beast. Nineveh was written ideographically as a fish in an enclosure. There was a huge bomb hanging above the U.S./Nineveh by a string with a bow tied in it. Obviously, we were in great danger of judgment. It did not fall and I knew it was the delay of judgment. But now I am seeing that it was prophetically also speaking of mercy in this time.  But it is always possible that Father gives you individually mercy. This will be a Psalm 91 Passover for the Saints. Of course, this is grace and absolutely wonderful news.   Some might say, But David you made such a good case that God would use P-X to take down the DS enemy. But the collateral damage and death would be tremendous. Whereas one angel took out 185,000 men in one night and there was no collateral death. In George Washington's vision of three wars here the first two were exactly right and the third we are fighting now. In this war the patriots were out gunned by the invaders but the angels came beside them and they conquered the invaders. This is God's solution, The angels will take down the invaders in every nation when the chastening is sufficient, with no collateral damage.   Some say they saw the Rev. 12 sign in the heavens on Sep.23, 2017. In that case Saturn was seen as the Dragon. Saturn is also a type of Satan. In the Rev 12 scenario, Satan is the Dragon Beast who has a body made up of people, seven heads and ten horns. If this sign has come up since then I don't know.  I haven't been keeping up with it. The star software's would not show this planetary system anyway for its head is a rogue sister to our Sun that is not admitted by the powers that be since they first discovered it and bragged about it. They quickly backtracked so they could make it to their bunkers without us. The Man-child mentioned in the sign is a corporate world-wide body of people just like the woman, the harlot, the beast, the false prophet, etc.. The Lord showed me that the history of the early Church must repeat but on a larger scale with many more people as the actors. Like Moses and Jesus these Man-childs are a first-fruits body of reformers that will lead the Church through the wilderness tribulation. {Rev. 12:1} And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars (Doctrine of the 12 apostles.); {2} and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. {3} And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon (This is the Dragon Beast but look at the parallel. NASA called the planetary system, of which P-X is a part of, the Nemesis system. Nemesis means - one that inflicts retribution or vengeance. Nemesis is the central solar planet of this system, which never reached nuclear ability. We are a binary, two star system like almost all systems seen. The DS doesn't want you to see these things so you won't from them. It also needs infrared to be seen and is very far away except for P-X, which goes through our solar system.) Please understand this:  There are two Dragons. One is the historic P-X Dragon. The other is the end time Dragon Beast in Rev 12 identified as the body of Satan. That body has seven heads, identified in the Bible as seven world ruling beasts who ruled over God's people and whose seed are all with us in the end time. It also had ten horns representing ten continental divisions of the world. In short it is the whole world in Satan but outside of Christ. These two Dragons have a symbolic relationship as we will see. Notice in our text of Rev 12:3 that the Dragon Beast is being called the “great red dragon” and that is because there is a lesser red dragon. Our Rev 12 context goes on to say, having seven heads (Notice the two Beasts in symbolism are related. Nemesis has 7 orbitals - the outermost one is Planet X, which passes through our solar system. It is the lesser red dragon, and is called this because it is a head of the dragon body.) and ten horns (It was called the Horned Planet by the ancient historians because it appears to have horns or wings as it flies through space.), and upon his heads seven diadems. {4} And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth The P-X Dragon tail is full of asteroids, meteors, and boulders which look like stars falling to earth when earth passes through it. The Greek word for “star” here is aster from which we get the word asteroid. Physically speaking, If one star fell to the earth, that would be the end of earth. (Watching the stars on the horizon as A pole/crustal shift of 1/3 turn of the earth happens, which also speaks of 1/3 the stars as the seed of Abraham falling away. A pole shift can return to its original position after P-X is gone but the crustal shift will stay and we personally will be closer to the equator when it's over. Continuing with {4}… and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered (The Dragon Beast opposes the Woman Church.), that when she is delivered he may devour her child. {5} And she was delivered of a son, a man-child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. {6} And the woman fled into the wilderness (The woman Church is going into the wilderness tribulation chased by the Dragon Beast at the beginning of Rev.12, which is the beginning of the first 3 ½ years and the Dragon Beast with seven heads and ten horns only lasts 3 ½ years for Rev.13 starts the second 3 ½ years, which is the non-descript Beast, now with the seven heads and ten horns and the dragon is gone. Would the P-X Dragon also last that long. Thankfully, because of the grace of God, we now know it will not.), where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.  So I asked the Lord if there would still be earthquakes and got a Yes. I asked if the other dates that were also associated with promises still be right and got a Yes. I asked if the angels were taking down the factious in Church and state who are not elect and got, Magnificently. The bad news is, we are now headed towards civil war. Rev 6:4 And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Ministering Angels David Eells – 5/19/24 Heb 1:13-14 But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?  14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? (Who relates best to angels and needs the most angels? What is their ministry and service to us?)   (John was told the heavenly Jerusalem was the Bride coming down out of heaven. And here they are fellowshipping with innumerable hosts of angels.)  Heb 12:22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels. (Who relates best to the angels who lead the obedient Christians to the Bride city of God?)   Deu 7:20 Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way (I asked Baruch, whom the Lord said was the head of the UBM angels, Are you this angel to me? He said, Yes. Many times the enemy has tried to harm or even kill me but like Psa 91 says he keeps us from injury. My angel, Baruch, has saved me many times. And what is this angel for?), and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. (He keeps us and brings us to our promised land, physical and spiritual. I.e. conquering our flesh man and his spirits until we have rest from our enemies as we obey God through him. Let's see..)    21 Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not (As we will see, If we don't listen to him, he is provoked.); for he will not pardon your transgression: (He will spank us when we do not listen. Sometimes people call this an accident but it is not.) for my name is in him (Name means the nature, character and authority of the Lord is in Him. He represents the Lord to you and must be respected.). 22 But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak (Notice: God speaks to us through His angel who speaks to us through our conscience and and to give direction from the Lord. Many “entertain angels unawares”. Satan tells the wicked that angels don't converse with men, which flies in the face of the whole Bible. These people don't believe in angels because they speak against them and their sins, which they witness every day. So if we listen to the Lord through His angel, God goes on to say >); then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. (We are always to try the spirits to see if they agree with the Word.)    23 For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: and I will cut them off.  (He cuts off the old man of our land and the factious enemies who attempt to deceive, control, and spiritually or physically harm us. The Lord said to me, “A Christian who falls into faction no longer has a good angel but is under fallen angels or demons as Hermas' revelation says. And of course the enemies cannot match wits nor power with God's angels.) 24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, (I.e. Do not serve the lusts of their demons) nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars.    25 And ye shall serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 26  There shall none cast her young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. 27 I will send my terror before thee (We just read that our angel is before us), and will discomfit (Meaning: To confuse, scatter, frustrate the plans of, embarrass, defeat) all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (Meaning, they will run from us for they are uncomfortable around us.) 28 And I will send the hornet before thee,(Notice Father will send - the angel, terror, and the hornet, which is also terror, before us against our enemies. The angel will manifest terror and fear to our enemies. The Lord has spoken to me several times concerning the faction saying, “They fear you David.” One reason for this is because they have seen what the Lord's angels have done to destroy them and their friends. We are always sad to see this and pray they will repent and be saved but we have no authority to wrestle with flesh and blood. We can only agree with the Lord so they should fear HIM.) which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.    (Notice the human enemies and their god's, the fallen angels, cannot stand before the Angels of God when we are in obedience. Psa 103:20-21 Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.  21  Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.)   29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee. (Father keeps us humble by giving us an enemy so we are not lifted up by pride and are dependent and submissive to Him. Satan was very proud of his beauty and authority and became puffed up wanting to take God's place or usurp authority. Every factious person receives witchcraft, faction, and slander. This witchcraft is rebellion and attempts to domineer others.)    30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, (This method of driving the enemies out keeps us humble and dependent on God.) until thou be increased, and inherit the land. (The land here is twofold; the natural land that the Lord has promised us will be rid of the enemies. And the spiritual land of the natural man must be delivered from the lusts of the flesh.) 31 … for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand: and thou shalt drive them out before thee. 32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. (I.e. Have no agreement with their idols and unfruitful works of darkness. Shun them as commanded or they will leaven you.)    33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. (Fortunately they always run to their own kind when discovered. 2Jn 1:10-11  If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:  11  for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. Notice: even a greeting can cause you to be infected with their demons.) (Angels appeared to bring promises to Abraham and to hear his requests.) Gen 18:1 And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him (As we will see one was the Lord and two were angels and all were manifest in apparent flesh.): and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5 and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. (So here we see that Abraham spoke to the Lord and the angels and they answered him. The factious agree we can't talk to angels but they talk to and hear from fallen angels.) 6 And Abraham hastened… (to prepare a meal for them which they ate.)…10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. …12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old? 14 Is anything too hard for Jehovah? (The Lord and His angels object to unbelief.) …16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; (Obviously not, and because he raised his children who came after him to know and follow the Lord as we see here.) 18 seeing that Abraham had surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?   19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Fathers gave charges to their children after them and when they obeyed they received the promises.) 20 And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; (As we will see they were full of lust and were sexual perverts just as many in the faction in church and state are now.) 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22 And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom (The two angels went to judge Sodom.): but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah (The Lord was distinguished from the other two “men”.). 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked? (Abraham who was called “God's friend” reasoned with Him. He still listens to His friends.) 24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (The Lord listened to His faithful friend.) 26 And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake. (Abraham was pretty nervy and not satisfied until got the Lord down to ten but because he was a faithful friend the Lord listened.. and probably did what He planned to do all along. There weren't 10 righteous there but He spared them. :0) 33 And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Gen 19:1 And the two angels (So the Lord left the judgment to the angels.) came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth; 2 and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn aside, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, (He knew the city and the predators. We warn of the predators too.) and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your way. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. (Do you suppose they wanted him to see that He shouldn't live and raise children in such a place? Neither should we have fellowship with predators.) 3 And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.  4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; (Young and old, all were demonized perverted predators like we have known and they pass it on to their whole families.)  5 and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. 7 And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof. (Lot didn't know the power of God over these devils or this would not have been an alternative.)  9 And they said, Stand back. And they said, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. (They accused him of judging them and rightly so. So they admitted they would do evil to them all and that was because they had no conscience just as it is today.) And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door. 10 But the men (angels) put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness (They are all smitten with spiritual blindness justifying themselves.), both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place: (So the angels were going to spare their relatives and friends from the destruction of Sodom. All such places shall be judged. The angels can get your relatives, friends and Christians out of there before it happens.) 13 for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah: and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it. 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked. (It seems they had become leavened by that evil place. Get out and don't raise children and grandchildren in such a place.) 15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here (The others didn't believe or leave.), lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 But he lingered; and the men (angels) laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. (The angels didn't take NO for an answer because of the promise of the Lord to Abraham and because of Lot.) 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain (I.e. Pray for them but separate from among the perverted people or be destroyed with them. Don't look back in pity upon them. God is their enemy and yours.); escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Flee to the heavenly places above this world.)  18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my lord: 19 behold now, thy servant hath found favor (grace) in thy sight, (Did his wife count on this false grace when she willfully disobeyed and looked back?) and thou hast magnified thy lovingkindness, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain (God saved him and he was still self-willed. He felt he couldn't reach the high place in God before judgment fell. He was told to go to high spiritual ground.), lest evil overtake me, and I die:  20 behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?)(A few will escape by grace.), and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. (Grace was given to one little city that was totally corrupt and would have been destroyed like the rest. It had angelic protection because of Lots covering from Abraham.) 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. (Just as Abraham was promised and God doesn't break His promises.) Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (Meaning, Little, I.e. A small remnant escapes on low spiritual ground.) 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar. (Light from the Son was given before judgment fell but many ignored it as they are doing now.) 24 Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven; 25 and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (We have watched the angels destroy all of the factious sodomites, sexual perverts, liars, thieves, slanderers, very strongly since 2011. They descend into hell on earth in their reprobation. Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,  42  and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (She became a monumental warning to those who disobey and pity Sodom in any way. Salt is antiseptic, I.e. anti perverse demons.) 27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Jehovah: 28 and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. (Notice they were utterly destroyed on the earth.) 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham (The righteous prayers are remembered with God.), and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt. (It was grace because Lot resisted his directions and you may know some like that.) 30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar (Because they had the same lowlife as the rest of the cities. He had learned his lesson and was tormented with that leaven in his daughters.):  and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. … 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. (The leaven of Sodom had infiltrated his daughters whom he foolishly raised there. Come out from among them and be ye separate. Pray for them long distance. The faction and Satanists do this to their children, sometimes physically but always spiritually.)  37 And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. (Ammon and Moab, were offspring of Sodom's spirits. They became factious against their own kin as Judas' and were judged. All these types are spiritual inbreds, which infects the brain and gene pool. Good words are the seeds of the sower that give life. Evil words are the seeds of Satan that bring death. Those who listen die.) An Angel Came to Daniel to Teach Him   Dan 9: 21  yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel (The head messenger angel), whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  22  And he instructed me, and talked with me, (Its silly to say we cannot hear from or speak with angels since we see precedent all over scripture.) and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee wisdom and understanding. (Angels speak for God in word of wisdom, knowledge, and prophecy.) 23  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.  (So angels bring interpretation of visions and prophecies.)   24  Seventy weeks (of years) are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, (I believe an angel from God gave me an interpretation to this that I never heard of men having. When Jesus came He began the New Covenant rejecting the Old Covenant. The New Covenant born again people are now Daniel's “people”.  Since they crucified the messenger of the covenant, Jerusalem was no longer called in scripture, the holy city. Instead the heavenly city is clearly the holy city. So 69 of the 70 weeks was “decreed upon” the Old Covenant people and city.   When Israel rejected the New Covenant, the 70th week is “decreed upon” the New Covenant people and Holy City including righteous Jews. So many are confused because they haven't made this connection.) to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins (The Law could not make perfect as Paul said so God sought a New Covenant. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin, only cover it. So Jesus took away sin.), and to make reconciliation for iniquity (Those sacrifices didn't reconcile or exchange us to God, Jesus did with the New Covenant.), and to bring in everlasting righteousness (The Law could not do this because it wasn't everlasting. It was only “until the seed should come to whom the promise was due”, and that seed was Jesus. We are righteous through the blood of Jesus),   and to seal up vision and prophecy (As we are seeing here, the New Testament is giving us the revelation of the shadows and types of the Old Testament parables that they did not have for it was sealed. For instance, Paul showed that Baptism is the fulfillment of circumcision. We are clearly told the Sabbatismos, meaning a continual Sabbath rest from man's works are demanded of us in Heb 4:9.), and to anoint the most holy (Jesus is the Christos, the most holy anointed one.)    25  Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks (=69 weeks): it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times.  26  And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off (Which was after the seven weeks in v-25, showing Jesus being crucified after the 69 weeks were up.) , and shall have nothing: (He had nothing in this world.)   and the people of the prince (Princes in Daniel are principalities not men. In chapter 10:13,20 we see the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece and Michael the Prince of the Lord's forces. All were principalities.) that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (The Roman principality demon crucified Jesus and destroyed the city and sanctuary.  In Daniels vision of the beast the Roman principality continued all the way down the legs to the ten toes of the ten kings in the last week.); and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined. (As in 70AD so it will be today.)   (And the “covenant with many” starts the last week, the 70th week of seven years, with the same Roman Principality making that covenant. Notice: “And he” here >) 27  And he (The same principality) shall make a firm covenant with many for one week (Either you have a 2000 year old man here or he is a principality.): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing (or pinnacle) of abominations shall come one (This speaks of “one” abomination above the rest.) that maketh desolate; (The mark of the beast is given to those who give up the crucified life. The mark is the abomination that maketh many of God's NT temple desolate of God for they are reprobated as Revelation says.)   and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate. (Notice: wrath be poured out is not on a building called the temple but a people who became desolate from the mark.  Notice: the desolate here are people who were part of the NT temple. Notice: unto the full end is the end of the tribulation/Day of the Lord. In the last half of the tribulation, in Rev 13, the beast makes war on the saints to purify them and separate the desolate from them. So we see that angels came to bring revelation and even interpretation of revelations to those who do not respect man's interpretations. Angels also bring to pass the written judgments.)   Act 8:26-35  But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. (Angels can speak to us audibly but most often they speak to our mind of the spirit. In this case it was clear instruction and direction, but it could be discernment, revelation, word of knowledge or wisdom, correction, encouragement, promises, etc. Of course, it would be in agreement with the Word and nature of God for as we saw “My name is in him”. The word name means nature, character, and authority. In essence we are speaking to the Lord and can converse with Him. Commonly we hear from the Lord through our angel. We must be careful if we are in sin and have selfish motives, we could hear from another spirit.   And of course it was an important mission in that it was also a witness to Candace and Philip was anointed and successful.) 27  And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;  28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.  29  And the Spirit (of God) said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.    30  And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? …34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?  35  And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.   (Angels speak in faith so that we agree with them and receive by faith what is said. Sometimes they speak faith and we wait to see it come to pass and it does not because we are walking by sight. We are tempted to believe they lied to us but the fault is ours. The angels expect us to believe the word of the Lord. For this reason they do not speak to some people.)   Luk 1:13-20  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. …and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.    …  18  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.  19  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.  20  And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak (First notice that angels should be respected. Why shouldn't Zacharias speak? Because it would have been with unbelief, which would hinder the fulfillment of the prophecy. Don't speak unbelief in the promises.), until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.   (Our faith in the blood of the Lamb and our confession of the promises empowers the angels to cast down our enemies.) Rev 12:7-11 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;  8  and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9  And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.    (Notice that they lost their power along with the prince of the power of the air. Does this happen in a lesser way when we as disciples do what the early disciples did? It appears so. Luk 10:17-19  And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name.  18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. So it happened back then with relatively new disciples so it should happen with us too.  Cast them down.  19  Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. So what are the conditions whereby disciples can do this now?)   10  And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ (Most of God's people don't believe in their authority and power to cast down demons so they lose before they get started.): for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.  11  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb (Because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus we are covered and guiltless and have authority over sin.), and because of the word of their testimony (This is also the word “witness.” Because we have the confession or witness of our authority over “all the power of the enemy.”); and they loved not their life even unto death. (Because they are living the crucified life they have power for the old man is dead.)

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.-1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. -v.35-41--2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. -v.42-44a--3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. -v.44b-49--Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised---Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body-- Phil 3-20-21-What did Jesus say about Himself-- What verb tense-- John 11-25-How does the Bible describe our inheritance-- 1 Peter 1-4

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.-1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. -v.35-41--2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. -v.42-44a--3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. -v.44b-49--Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised---Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body-- Phil 3-20-21-What did Jesus say about Himself-- What verb tense-- John 11-25-How does the Bible describe our inheritance-- 1 Peter 1-4

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. (v.35-41)2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. (v.42-44a)3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. (v.44b-49)Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised?Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body? Phil 3:20-21What did Jesus say about Himself? What verb tense? John 11:25How does the Bible describe our inheritance? 1 Peter 1:4

Sometimes in our lives we feel that God is distant and has forgotten about us and is far away from us, our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and we are alone dealing with a situation. We can get frustrated and angry or disappointed with God and take things into our own hands to try and get them sorted out – most often with disastrous results! We only need to read the Psalms to remind ourselves how honest David was with GodPsalm 102Psalm 13We all feel like this from time to time in our lives. Hagar (OT)God has already promised to Abram that he will be the father of many nations Genesis 15:2-5Genesis 16:1–15According to the prevailing culture of the day if a wife was barren (which was a sign of gods displeasure) she could offer her servant as a surrogate mother to her husband so Sarai gave Hagar to Abram and she became pregnant. This caused jealousy and arguments and such ill treatment of Hagar that she runs away into the desert. Abram and Sarai took things into their own hands rather than waiting on God. Waiting is hard – and yet that place is where God would stretch our faith and trust in him to deliver what he has promised – It's a hard lesson.Hagar was out of Sarai and Abrams eyes but she wasn't out of God sight – she encountered God in the desert – Notice God knows her name and exactly who she isv8This is an amazing story of God's grace as God's covenant is with Abram and Sarai and yet we have here an Egyptian slave with no rights who God sees, directs and names her son. She is the first person in the bible to receive a visit from the angel of the Lord and her baby is the first baby named by God whilst still in the womb. Hagar comes to know God, who sees her and is invited into a relationship with the living God – something she believed was only for Abram and Sarai – and in doing so reveals part of Gods very character – Jehovah EL ROI – "I am the God who sees you" This is a wonderful story of God's heart for all men and women. However, there are consequences to Abrams actions which he has during his lifetime with Ishmael – Hagar's son which we are still struggling with today.Phil Moore in his commentary says:"...Whenever we hear news reports of fighting between Jews and Arabs over who should control Palestine, we are hearing the echo of what happened between Abram and Hagar"In the midst of our mess God's grace is wonderful – He is Jehovah El Roi – the God who sees you!The second person I want to look at is Nathanael (NT) John 1:43-51The Chosen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAbwGTcPA_kJesus is God and therefore is the God who sees – he sees Nathanael under the fig tree in despair and his plight is not ignoredv48 Notice that Nathanael cries "DO YOU SEE ME" and quotes Psalm 102 which we started with today – Jehovah El ROI – I am the God who SEES – what a wonderful revelation to Nathanael – so much so that he immediately declares " Rabbi you are the son of God- the King Of Israel"God watches over you, he knows your situation, he knows the trial you are going through, your concerns and your fears – Even when you are at your lowest ebb and its 4.00am and you feel all alone He loves you and he wants the best for you – always to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:13) – Jesus is always moved with compassion in our lowest moments when we cry out to him – he is Jehovah EL ROI – the God who seesPsalm 33:12-22Questions1. Why do you think we take things into our own hands so often? What stops us trusting God?2. What about the similarities and differences between Hagar and Nathanael's situations? What does this show us about God?3. How does the fact that God is the God who sees us help me in my daily life?4.

It's Mind-Change Monday!And today is also DEFAULT MODE MONDAY!Your brain uses the same amount of energy at rest as it does when you're actively thinking about or engaged in a task. We're going to look at the task-positive network and the default mode network today, and learn how to improve our brain's baseline behavior so we can become healthier, feel better, and be happier.Plus: an incredible email from a listener, a new book from Susie Larson, and more!Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Acts 17:26-28, Matthew 5:44-46Books Mentioned: Bliss Brain: The Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy by Dawson Church, Waking Up to the Goodness of God: 40 Days Toward Healing and Wholeness by Susie Larson, Am I Just My Brain? by Sharon Dirckx, Switch On Your Brain by Caroline Leaf(We are on a 2-week sabbatical to prepare for Season 10. This episode will help you get ready!)Leave a voicemail with your question or comment!You can become a paid partner of the podcast and get special bonus episodes and lots more content by clicking here. Support and boost your immune system with Armra! Use DRLEEWARREN code at checkout for a discount!Improve your gut health, immune system, and protect your brain with Pique!We have a YouTube Channel! Click here to subscribe.PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen!Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs!Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose!Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book!Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here! (00:10) - Mind Change Monday: Understanding Your Default Mode Network (01:58) - Self-Brain Surgery School: Transforming Minds for a Better Life (02:10) - Kathleen's Email: Embracing Happiness and God's Mercy (04:04) - Maintaining Resilience and Being a Light for Others (10:20) - Retraining Your Brain to Notice God's Goodness (12:43) - Default Mode Network: The Power of Connection and Resilience (19:41) - The Default Mode Network and Autopilot Brain Activity (23:05) - The Default Mode Network: Past, Future, and Emotion (28:59) - The Brain's Protective Mechanism and God's Love (31:19) - The Spirit God Has Given Us: Power, Love, and a Sound Mind (33:31) - Understanding Our Calling and Purpose in Life (35:45) - Capturing Thoughts and Enhancing Brain Function and Health (37:58) - Finding Hope through Memory and Movement (43:18) - Introducing "Hope is the First Dose" book

Series: A living Hope in a dying worldTitle: Why do people suffer? Living with the end in mindScripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19; Matt 5:11-12; Phil 2:5-11; Luke 9:26; Acts 5:41; Mark 10:17; James 1:2-4; Rom 8:28 NIVHow do we maintain our joy in the midst of suffering?How do we arm ourselves with this attitude of Christ? Why do bad things happen to good people?Bottom Line: We live in light of the end by not being surprised (but rejoicing) at or ashamed of our suffering (but pressing on) but instead by entrusting ourselves to the Lord's good works of doing good works until we go home.SERMON OUTLINENOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSOUTLINESMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroductionWe said last week that we live with the end in mind by arming ourselves with the attitude of Christ. (Regarding suffering)This week Peter continues with this thought by adding how we do this. If I were in Ephesians 6, I'd say this includes putting on the full armor of Christ. Peter adds this to Paul's teaching: Entrust yourself to your faithful Creator, and Continue to do good until you go home.I told the story at the end of last week about Barnie Reeves. He was a member of this church for years until he went home to be with the Lord. He was in the hospital in those last days with intestinal cancer of some kind. I was visiting him in the hospital one day downtown when he started tearing up. He said that there had been times that week when he felt like Jesus was in the room with him. He said he'd never felt closer to the Lord than in those moments. This was in the midst of the worst suffering he'd ever been through. This retired USAF sergeant, tears rolling down his aged cheeks, was smiling and glowing with the joy of the Lord in the midst of suffering because he was able to make the connection between suffering and glory. That when he suffered for doing good (not evil), and he was vocal with anyone who would listen about his faith in Christ, he experienced the joy of the Lord. He fellowshipped with a Jesus who understood great suffering.It's this empathy towards suffering with purpose that gave him joy.How are you suffering today? Is it for good? Because of evil? Because of the sin of others? Because of your sin?What does God say about this?“This lesson is one that George Matheson, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in March 1842, put before us in elevated language. At birth Matheson's eyesight was poor. By age eighteen he had nearly lost it completely. Robbed of physical sight, he nevertheless recognized spiritual truths with penetrating clarity and insight. Take the role of suffering in the life of a believer, for example. It never caught him by surprise. He never thought suffering for his Christian faith strange. And when, according to God's will, he was asked to enter into it, he was never ashamed. He writes:There is a time coming in which your glory shall consist in the very thing which now constitutes your pain. Nothing could be more sad to Jacob than the ground on which he was lying, a stone for his pillow. It was the hour of his poverty. It was the season of his night. It was the seeming absence of his God. The Lord was in the place and he knew it not. Awakened from his sleep he found that the day of his trial was the dawn of his triumph.Ask the great ones of the past what has been the spot of their prosperity and they will say, "It was the cold ground on which I was lying." Ask Abraham; he will point to the sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Ask Joseph; he will direct you to this dungeon. Ask Moses; he will date his fortune from his danger in the Nile. Ask Ruth; she will bid you build her monument in the field of her toil. Ask David; he will tell you that his songs came in the night. Ask Job; he will remind you that God answered him out of the whirlwind. Ask Peter; he will extol his submersion in the sea. Ask John: he will give the path to Patmos. Ask Paul; he will attribute his inspiration to the light which struck him blind.Ask one more! — the Son of God. Ask Him whence has come His rule over the world; he will answer, "From the cold ground on which I was lying — the Gethsemane ground —I received my scepter there."OUTLINERelying on David Helms' commentary for this outline:III. The connection between suffering and gloryDon't be surprised or think it strange when you, a Christian, suffers for doing good. (12) (This is another way to ask the question: why do bad things happen to good people?)But rejoiceWhy?Because we suffer with ChristSo that we may be overjoyed when glory is revealedWhat is God's glory exactly? It's the sum of his attributes like his Holiness (justice, righteousness)LoveLifeLight--like the sunraysTruthFaithfulnessOmni-benevolence (he's all good)Omnipotence (all powerful)Omniscience (all knowing)Omnipresence (everywhere all the time; even outside of time)Immutable (unchanging and therefore perfect)Glory is meant to be visible Like a gold medal shines and has intrinsic valueIt also represents hours, days, months of work and preparation needed to earn that medalOur job is to reflect his gloryIf insulted, notice you are blessedWhy?Because the spirit of Glory rests on you (Persecution University -Greg Stier)If you suffer, It should be for good, not evilIf as a Christian, don't be ashamedBut praise God that you bear his nameWhy?Because it is time for judgment to begin with God's householdDon't be ashamed (16)Jesus said, if you are ashamed of me Acts 5:41, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”Luke 9:26, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”Th e Poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox penned these words:“All those who journey, soon or late, Must pass within the garden's gate;Must kneel alone in darkness there,And battle with some fierce despair.God pity those who cannot say,‘Not mine but thine,' who only pray,‘Let this cup pass,' and cannot seeThe purpose in Gethsemane.”Therefore, press on, brother! -Barnie ReevesEmbrace your suffering—if it's for your own good.Notice God is making a connection between our suffering his judgment—most surprising! First time his reference to suffering isn't at the hands of ungodly people.Yet, still about ungodly behavior.So, at times, our suffering comes to us because we deserve it. God disciplines us. (Prunes us?)“The apricot tree at 2828 Hill Heights Park was trimmed back so much I wondered if the branches and leaves would ever grow back, let alone the leaves. We needed up that next year having apricots coming out of our ears; Mom made apricot pie, jam, and we had it as fresh fruit, an there was still an abundance left for the birds.” -SpurgeonWhen we sink, we tarnish his glory. So he disciplines us to multiple reasons (see below)And if you're discouraged, take note of what Peter says about unbelievers.Like Spurgeon, learn to say, “I have learned to kiss the wave that strikes me against the Rock of Ages.”Entrust your souls—v. 19 Most succinctly summarizes this theme of suffering and how we're to live in light of the end:.Regardless of whether we are suffering from sins we've committed or for doing good, we're called to trust the Lord for the care of their souls.While doing goodDon't be surprised when hardship comes; don't think it strangeDon't be ashamedDon't hesitate, instead, to Commit or Entrust yourself to God's eternal plan, and Faithful creator = sovereign; no suffering happens that he doesn't allowFaithful to his people no matter what“The word for commit (19) is used for making a deposit. The Hellenistic world lacked our modern banking system. Someone undertaking a journey might deposit his or her funds with a neighbour while away. Naturally, the neighbour's integrity would be a concern! God's grace appears in his entrusting the gospel to us; how much more readily may we commit our souls to the faithful keeping of our Creator (19)!Continue to do good along the narrow wayThis shows that we're entrusting our lives to him in the midst of suffering and persecution“Press-on” were words of Paul that Barnie would say often in his latter years. Barnie—son of encouragement—knew how to encourage discouraged believers.ConclusionWhen we entrust ourselves to the Lord, we find ourselves resting in him. This frees us up to do good as we head to the end.Bottom Line: We live in light of the end by not being surprised (but rejoicing) at or ashamed of our suffering (but pressing on) but instead by entrusting ourselves to the Lord's good works of doing good works until we go home.PrayQ. What do I want them to know?A. How live rejoice in their trials and suffering.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because it will encourage them to press-on towards joy when they suffer instead of fall into despair.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Live with the end in mind by continuing to do good as you commit yourself to your faithful creator.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because this leads to joy and glory and changed livesQ. How can they begin to do this?A. ByCommitting yourself to your faithful Creator.Continue to do good until you go home.NOTESRichard Wurmbrand story.“Two present-day examples ought to encourage us in this direction. The death of Richard Wurmbrand in 2001 didn't attract a huge amount of attention, but back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was one of the better-known dissidents in the Communist bloc. And unusually for a dissident at that time, he was no intellectual but an evangelical minister in Romania who was suffering for the gospel. He described the joy he possessed amid persecution. He had been confined in solitary confinement. He had been beaten and bore many scars. Yet he said that in it all there were times when he was overcome with joy. In fact, he writes that he would actually stand up in his weakened state and dance around his cell as if the angels were dancing with him. That is Beatitude-like rejoicing! That is the proper stance that every Christian ought to have in the day of trial. We ought to be known for dancing—as if all the host of Heaven are joining in.Helen Roseveare was a Christian British medical doctor who served more than twenty years in Zaire, Africa. In 1964 a revolution overwhelmed the country. She and her coworkers were thrown into five and a half months of unbelievable brutality and torture. For a moment she thought that God had forsaken her, but then she was overwhelmed with a sense of his presence, and she records that it was as if God was saying to her:Twenty years ago you asked me for the privilege of being a missionary, the privilege of being identified with me. This is it. Don't you want it? This is what it means: These are not your sufferings, they are mine. All I ask of you is the loan of your body.What an encouraging model for us all. Are you feeling forsaken? Peter wants you to see that just behind the curtain, if you could pull back the veil, is the presence of the God of glory and his Spirit resting upon you. So don't be surprised, don't think it strange, and don't be ashamed.” -Helms, p. 151Why do bad things (suffering) happen to good people?First of all, who's really good?Jesus says no one is good. “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” Mark 10:17Paul says no one is good.As it is written, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12 NIV quoting parts of Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccle. 7:20No one is good in God's eyes until he's justified them (declared righteous) empowering them to do good. What good people?If we mean people who do good things and maybe don't murder or cheat on their spouse (low bar), then the answer is likely they are not being perfect as their father in heaven is perfect. Suffering comes becauseWe have to deal with the consequences of our actions and sinsWe live in a broken world so we are impacted by the consequences of original sinWe have to deal with the consequences of other people's sinsIf we mean people who love God and love people, by grace through faith, then Peter answers this question in 1 Peter.We have to deal with the consequences of original sin. Hurricanes hit all peopleWe live in a broken world so we are impacted by the consequences of original sinWe have to deal with the consequences of other people's sinsTo test our faith to see if it's genuineTo give us the opportunity to persevere by grace through faith and become mature and complete not lacking anything (James 1:2-4)To purify our faith (like discipline) so that we're better equipped to be holy and not sinTo cleanse and purify the spiritual believerTo chasten and punish the carnal believerTo convict and punch the non-believer so as to save them from eternal punishmentDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastOUTLINESNIV Study Bible brief outlineAfter the opening (1:1-2), the letter has three main sections:1: Peter first tells his readers to be holy in all you do. As Gentiles they once lived in ignorance (they did not know the ways of God). But they are now a holy nation, part of God's own people, and are called to a new way of life.2: Peter then explains how this way of life will impress those who might accuse and persecute them without just cause.3: Peter acknowledges that his readers are suffering for their faith, but he explains that this is only to be expected. The Messiah himself suffered, and believers all over the world are facing the same challenge. The followers of Jesus are waiting for the day God will visit them, and even in their suffering they can show they belong to God.The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.P Schreiner Commentary“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P Schreiner 0. Elect exiles (1:1-2)Hope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God's people. (1:13-2:10)Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)In Babylon (5:12-24)Relying on Willmington's Outline Bible1 Peter 4 - Peter writes about sufferingI. The purpose of suffering (4:1-11, 15, 17-18)A. To cleanse and purify the spiritual believerB. To chasten and punish the carnal believerII. The privilege of suffering (4:12-14, 16)A. It is to be expected (4:12): All believers will be allowed to sufferThis is God disciplining his children i.e. refining them by fireIllustration: “Go sit on the bed” - how we'd begin a conversation about something our girls needed to be disciplined over.B. It is to be esteemed (4:13-14, 16): To suffer for Christ means to share his past griefTo suffer for Christ means to share his future gloryIII. The patience in suffering (4:19)A. We are to commit ourselves to God. (4:19b)B. We are to continue to do good. (4:19a)1 Pet 4:17-18 This refers not to final judgment but to God's refining discipline (Heb 12:7). God often allows believers to sin and then experience the consequences.He does this for several reasons: (1) to show us our potential for sinning, (2) to encourage us to turn from sin and more constantly depend on him, (3) to prepare us to face other, even stronger temptations in the future, and (4) to help us stay faithful and keep on trusting him. If believers need earthly discipline (judgment) from God, how much more will unbelievers receive it? If the righteous are barely saved (only because of God's mercy), what chance have those who reject Christ?1 Pet 4:19 Everywhere the Bible counsels that we trust God—in good times and bad, during sunny skies and thunderclouds, when we have a pocket full of change and a pocket full of sawdust. How does trust work? (1) Trust overcomes fear. Genuine trust in God says, "Whatever mess I'm in, my heavenly Father will lead me." (2) Trust overcomes depression. No matter how overwhelming the situation or how low it makes you feel, God can draw you back to the light.(3) Trust overcomes hate. When careless or cruel people hurt you, sometimes irreparably, you can hate forever or you can trust God, but you can't do both. God is there to steady even the worst situation —always with a promise, always with hope. Commit your life to him for safekeeping. Rely on him when you face your worst circumstances. -Chronological life application, study Bible notesMAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Peter and Jude,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

The Book of Ecclesiastes Man is determine to do wrong by turning from the All Powerdul God. Doing what pleases his flesh and others. Forget the True and Liviving God sleeps nor slumber. Notice God grace, mercy,and love always come into play because God loves man and made man for his pleasure.

It's Mind-Change Monday!And today is also DEFAULT MODE MONDAY!Your brain uses the same amount of energy at rest as it does when you're actively thinking about or engaged in a task. We're going to look at the task-positive network and the default mode network today, and learn how to improve our brain's baseline behavior so we can become healthier, feel better, and be happier.Plus: an incredible email from a listener, a new book from Susie Larson, and more!Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Acts 17:26-28, Matthew 5:44-46Books Mentioned: Bliss Brain: The Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy by Dawson Church, Waking Up to the Goodness of God: 40 Days Toward Healing and Wholeness by Susie Larson, Am I Just My Brain? by Sharon Dirckx, Switch On Your Brain by Caroline LeafSupport and boost your immune system with Armra! Use DRLEEWARREN code at checkout for a discount!Improve your gut health, immune system, and protect your brain with Pique!PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen!Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs!Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose!Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book!Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!Music by Tommy Walker(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 ) (00:10) - Mind Change Monday: Understanding Your Default Mode Network (01:58) - Self-Brain Surgery School: Transforming Minds for a Better Life (02:10) - Kathleen's Email: Embracing Happiness and God's Mercy (04:04) - Maintaining Resilience and Being a Light for Others (10:20) - Retraining Your Brain to Notice God's Goodness (12:43) - Default Mode Network: The Power of Connection and Resilience (19:41) - The Default Mode Network and Autopilot Brain Activity (23:05) - The Default Mode Network: Past, Future, and Emotion (28:59) - The Brain's Protective Mechanism and God's Love (31:19) - The Spirit God Has Given Us: Power, Love, and a Sound Mind (33:31) - Understanding Our Calling and Purpose in Life (35:45) - Capturing Thoughts and Enhancing Brain Function and Health (37:58) - Finding Hope through Memory and Movement (43:18) - Introducing "Hope is the First Dose" book

Notice God's gifts.

Godly leadership can be a challenging task. We want to trust God & take action. We want to take risks, but we must be calculated. We want to serve & lead. Godly leadership calls for God's wisdom! Notice God's wisdom at work in Nehemiah's life today as He seeks to serve His King. Consider how his example might influence your leadership for His glory and others good!

How can you teach your kids to recognize God in the ordinary moments of life? Courtney Ellis talks with Jim Daly about ways she's teaching her kids to do just that. Plus, John Fuller and Danny Huerta discuss how to be more engaging with a child who isn't as interested in talking to you.   Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast, or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.   Receive the book "Almost Holy Mama" for your donation of any amount!   Learn About the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting   Who is God: Teaching Kids About God and His Nature   Contact our Counseling Department    Listen Anytime   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.                                                I dreamt this morning that I was in a room with Beyoncé (pronounced Bee-Yon-SAY) and a group of other people wearing navy blue blazers to represent the Democratic party. (Beyoncé is an international superstar pop singer, but also, a known witch for those with the eyes to see it.)     (The factious in state and Church are rebelling against God, to do their own will through witchcraft, exercising manipulation and control for their own gain. This is futile! They already have their reward and are doomed to eternal damnation.)    In the dream, I knew that Beyoncé was born for the position that she was in and was born to be a Democrat. Although she was wearing a closed blazer, it was a v-neck, and she was not wearing a shirt underneath, so it wasn't very modest. (All satanists are full of lust and try to attract those of weak heart through the lust of the eyes into their cult.)   I was observing her and the others standing across from me to my left and they were grumbling about the shift that was happening in politics. It seemed that there were a couple of Democrats in the House that had lost their seats to the Republican party. If there was anyone in that room that was excited about that shift, they had to keep it under wraps for fear of these satanists. (Demoncrats have been taken over by the satanist elites.) The scene changed and Beyoncé and another young, black woman were sitting on a long table with Beyonce in the middle. These women were sitting to her left and to her right. I was sitting across from Beyoncé as an observer. At this point, her hair was much shorter than it was in the first scene. (This is a shame for her testimony according to 1Co 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same as if shaven.)    The room was now very dark, whereas previously there had been some light in the room. Although it was very dark, the darkness had a blue (Democrat) hue like it would look if there were a thunderstorm. The lighting and atmosphere also reminded me of what it looks like when they are depicting seances in the movies. As I was observing, I saw Beyoncé lift up her hands and she threw up some black M&M's into the air. They were suspended in the air in a right-facing triangle (my right, her left), which looked like a "play" button logo similar to the logo for YouTube. All of the M&Ms were black except for the one in the middle, which was a copper color. She said the lighter M&M represented her child and it needed something to make it black like the others, although I do not remember how she said she would do this. (So she wanted her copper colored child to be black like the others.  Satanists have a thing for black, darkness, no light, etc.) Beyoncé then turned to the girl on her left and said something to her that made her upset. It was witchcraft, because when she had said it to the young lady on her right, she became possessed and began convulsing in her seat uncontrollably. (All satanists are factious so when they speak faction, criticism, slander, and accusations to others that person becomes demon possessed like them.) Beyonce' was doing this, one by one, to each and every person at the table, whether they liked it or not. She was taking control and letting them all know how things were going to go. Then I woke up. (All of these women are now subject to the principality in the speaker.  They can now be trafficked.) I asked the Lord for a couple of texts by faith at random regarding this and received: Isa 28:1-4 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim (Those spiritual drunks who worshipped a false god and factioned against their chosen brothers of Judah lost their crown. Their drunkenness is from the demons they love.),   and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one… will he cast down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot (The faction lost their Kingdom dominion.):   4 and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley (The fleshly and lowly people), shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. (The factious satanists shall be devoured for their sins.) Isa 3:25-26 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness (uncleanness); and instead of a girdle, a rope (bondage); and instead of well-set hair, baldness (No submission to God – 1Co 11); and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth (Mourning, grief, a curse);   branding instead of beauty (Tattoos). 26 Thy men shall fall by the sword (Watch the satanists fall all over the world as they are cast down out of heaven with their father. The Alliance is slaughtering them.), and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit upon the ground. (Satanists are coming to great disrepute, without God, declassed, hated of all decent men.) Neh 1:7 (in context 7-9) 7 we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.     8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples (The factious satanists are on the run all over the world. General Eric M Smith and the special forces are killing them because they are sadistic murderers, traffickers and rapists of children and women all over the world. They are in full agreement with depopulation as long as it isn't them, as in Maui.):   9 but if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there. (Repent and God will bring you to Zion the Bride.)   We are in the Natural Realm Seeing into the Spiritual  Marie Kelton 8/18/23    During the meeting, I had a vision of myself in my room sitting on my bed. I saw what looked like a wall, but it was an opaque color. The Lord was standing next to the wall. I knew it was a veil that separated the spirit realm from the natural realm. The wall seemed to run parallel to the natural realm. (This is true time wise. What happens in the natural is caused by the hidden spiritual realm beyond the veil.)   Then suddenly, the veil became clear, and I could see in the spiritual realm as easily as I could in the natural realm. (Because she could see the spiritual like it was physical. This is what our dreams and visions do, show us what is actually happening that fleshly men in sin cannot see.)    I then had the same type of vision again only it was an open vision during the meeting. I saw the veil became clear.  I couldn't tell the difference between the two anymore. (Seeing the spirits, angels and demons pulling the strings behind the scene. Although a person who cannot see this all they have to do is look at the fruit.  For instance you can always know who is doing what behind the scenes even in the natural. Factious satanists “are of their father the devil” as Jesus said. They without conscience send witchcraft and lust demons into women so they can rape them. They traffic babies and little girls for the same reason. They sacrifice humans to their god, satan. They cannot cross the line and do what Christians and angels do. Get people saved, healed, delivered, do miracles, provide for them because satan cannot cast out satan.)   I had the thought that the spirit realm is going to become very visible and real. (To simplify this, we who serve God as we walk in the natural realm will be able to see into the spiritual realm so satan cannot hide his evil. He lays many traps to capture men in sin and curses.  Pro 1:17  For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird: )   It also made me think of “the witching hour”, where the powers of darkness are said to be the most powerful and more active in the natural realm (and use ignorant satanists.)    Defeating Faction and Jezebel   Winnie Osegueda 6/29/2023     (This revelation is for all of the Body to be aware of, and to pray against all spirits and the influence of faction through, doubt, unbelief and Jezebel.)     I had a very intense dream of warfare against the Jezebel spirit. I dreamt that we were in an open space for fellowship, and David was sharing and teaching just like he does on Fridays. The area where we were having the meeting seemed to be a public space, like an airport, so there were a lot of different people that I did not recognize around us as well. (When we broadcast on Fridays we reach out to a broader spectrum of people by air as in an airport.)    I went to go talk to Gaynold and Debbie and they both had a dream on the same night that a spirit of unbelief was present in my life (Seeing into the spirit realm is very useful.), and that I needed to come against it. In the dream it was confirmation to me because David also had shared the same thing.   I was relieved and glad to receive the correction, and I confessed and repented for the unbelief, and came against it. (Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.)    I then began to worship the Lord and pray in tongues, and a dark tan-skinned woman with black, collarbone length hair, began to come towards our fellowship with a knife. I began to come against the spirit of Jezebel (and faction) in the woman and command it to go. I continued to pray in the Spirit as she got closer and closer.  (The Lord warns us by insight into the spirit realm when they are going to attack so we can resist. “The curse that is causeless alighteth not.”   She was behind a short black gate at first and would throw this knife at different women to try and stab them with it. (Jezebel's weapon are words that impart her spirit. Jezebel is most often in rebellion against the authority of the man so they often try to bring other women into the fold to undermine husbands or shepherds or bosses.) Then she would pick up the knife and throw it again at the next woman.     I then saw that she was coming closer and closer towards me, and at this point, she hopped over the gate to get to me. As I continued to pray in the Spirit and war, she was becoming more and more angry because she was being affected by the warfare. (2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but mighty before God unto casting down of strongholds.)     As she was only feet away at this point, I felt tempted to feel fear, but I kept going because I knew she could not hurt me and that the Lord was with me. (NENT 2Th 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord as to you, that ye both do and will do what things we command.)    The woman with the Jezebel (and factious) spirit then got close enough to stab me, but she could not. I was too quick, ducking her every move. She tried to stab me on my right side, but I was so fast and jerked my body out of the way. Then she tried to stab my left side, and I again was able to move my body quickly and she could not get me.  (Seeing into the spirit realm in a dream or vision helps us not to come under that curse.)   Suddenly this woman was disarmed, and I had her weapon in my hand. She seemed to be very weak at this point and practically begged me to finish her off by grabbing my hand with the knife in it, and cutting down the middle of her body just like you would gut a fish. This was very gruesome to watch, but I knew this was not enough, and I then took the knife and entered it upward into the woman's heart. (The Word can go into the heart of Jezebel and deliver them of their apostate heart. Heb 4:12 For living is the word of God, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.)     Suddenly this woman was now a blonde, white woman with collarbone length hair, and she was completely different. She did not physically die, but the Jezebel in her did.     (Deliverance is a death to a part of self that will not allow Christ to grow. The two-edged sword of the Word cuts the enemy and the flesh. Once removed, it allows Christ to grow in them.)    She sat with us in the fellowship, and she was interested in the Lord and wanted to hear what David had to say.     And then I woke up very suddenly two minutes before 3 am, which is the witching hour, and so I prayed in the spirit and did warfare against unbelief and Jezebel just like in the dream for our local body, as well as myself and my home.     I asked for a verse by faith at random and received:    1Co 15:32 (32-34 in context) If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. 34 Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.    Saints, Cast Down the Satanists  David Eells – 8/18/23     We received this verse in the morning first thing by faith at random and it speaks of our command to declass the satanist faction: (Eze.40:4) And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel. (Yes Lord, we are doing this.)    The key to the deliverance of the men, women, and children captive to the pervert satanists has been shown to be a judgement from God on the satanists. Part of this He showed to be the death of Kevin C. Rea and his partner in perversion Eddie Brast, along with however many active satanists God sees should go with them for they are like them. Some of them are pedophiles and bisexuals and impart this to as many as they can. This is part of the destruction of the Edomites by David, as in Eze 34 & 35, who hated their brother, the chosen of God.   This is also when Jesus in the Man-child comes to claim the Bride and their persecution is over for they are prepared. We received this text this morning by faith at random. Zep 3:14-20 Sing, O daughter of Zion (The Bride); shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy (The satanists who have persecuted them.): the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee (Jesus in the Man-child has come to choose the Bride.); thou shalt not fear evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack. (I,e, go to work to prepare the Church for Tribulation, preach the good news, cast out demons, heal the sick, undo the damage of the satanists.)    17 Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save (Jesus in the Man-child has come); he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing. (He receives the Bride with joy.) 18 I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach. (Those who loved the Lord and the assembly were persecuted by the factious satanists who hated both.) 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; (He will judge the factious satanists and set the captives free as in Isa 61.)    (The Man-child will raise up and restore the Bride as in Jesus' day.) and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth. (Because of the slander of the satanists and apostates.)    (Notice God will give the Bride a name. The Philadelphia Church of brotherly love will receive that name [meaning the nature character and authority] of the New Jerusalem and Jesus.    Rev 3:12  He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.  21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.)   20 At that time I will bring you in, and at that time I will gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah. (The captives are set free from spiritual and physical death as at the resurrection of Jesus.   (Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.)    So I asked Father when this takedown of the satanists would happen. I opened my bible and looked down on these words alone. “When Babylon falls to Cyrus”, whom we know is Trump. That is the whole note in the margin of my Bible next to Isa “47”. Babylon in the DS and the faction satanists will lose its dominion as far as their authority from the principalities and powers of the air.    As Daniel said of the authority of the Beast kingdoms, “Their dominion was taken away but their lives were prolonged” meaning people with factious and satanist spirits will go into the tribulation to test the Church. As we will see it is the saints job to cast these demons and their father satan down.   As a type for our day, Jesus the Man-child, said when His disciples came back from a great victory over satan and his demons: Luk 10:17-19 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.    Isa 14:12-20 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! (Satan through his satanists have corrupted mankind.) 13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; (Their father and their huge ego pushed them to take over UBM but they failed and have only gotten those that are theirs.)    14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (They have taken the place of God as the judges of the brethren and accusers of the righteous. For this they are under the curse and age so much faster than we do.) 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.    16 They that see thee shall gaze at thee, they shall consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof (Like Maui and Ukraine where General Eric Smith and the marines and special forces are killing them for the evil they have done.);   that let not loose his prisoners to their home? (Their captives will be set free by Jesus in the Man-child – Isa 61.) 18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house.  19 But thou art cast forth away from thy sepulcher like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot.     20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people (Maui is a blue state where the satanists are killing liberals, their own people to steal their land.); the seed of evil-doers shall not be named forever. (Kevin's leadership has destroyed these satanists tempting them with the lusts of the flesh and bringing them into all perversion.)    Many would say, well the fall of the satanists doesn't look like its coming as fast as the Lord told us it would. Not so! The verse immediately before the number “47” is: Isa 46:13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (The salvation is the Lord in Zion. Notice it will happen quickly and God will save His people from these evil people and their demons.)    This next verse is all about the declass of all their evil, whose shame will be forever. 3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and will spare no man.    If that is not enough the text of 47 is absolutely amazing and says this: Isa 47:8 Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, (Representing their lusts to fornicate trafficked women and children, Attack our young women in the night to molest them in their sleep, steal all they can get their hands on, slander the righteous, judge anyone who doesn't agree with their perversion above, etc.)   that sittest securely, that sayest in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me; (They care for the needs of no one but their own selfish flesh. They have no power to save heal and deliver, but only to destroy. Satan cannot cast out satan.) I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: (So they think. We are about to see differently.)    9 but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, (Once again it will come fast.) the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, (This is the same word for witchcraft which satanists are famous for around the world.) and the great abundance of thine enchantments.   (Enchantments? meaning sending many curses to others which come back to curse them. Some are reprobated and the elect will escape. Psa 109:18-20 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, And it came into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.   (Our bones are where our life's blood comes from; oil would destroy that.) 19 Let it be unto him as the raiment wherewith he covereth himself, And for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually. 20 This is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, And of them that speak evil against my soul.)     Back to our original text Isa 47:10  For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me; (“The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.”) thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me. (Kevin started studying psychology and psychiatry and forsook the Bible as all satanists are compelled to do. He then sent Eve out to preach his demonic gospel that cannot save her or anyone.)    11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; … and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, (Suddenly) which thou knowest not. (But we know what the judgments are and I have already revealed them to you.)    12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. (I.e. God is saying lets see if your curses will save you… or destroy you.)    14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.    15 Thus shall the things be unto thee wherein thou hast labored: they that have trafficked with thee from thy youth shall wander every one to his quarter; there shall be none to save thee. (Kevin, You have trafficked others and now you have sold yourself to your father the Devil.   Notice that those who trafficked with you will scatter. Why?  Your death and others at the same time will be obviously a judgment from God proving we are who He says we are for we have told you and Eddie of this end for years. In fact we have been told by the Lord that some of these who escape will come to me and repent and tell your whole perverted story, but then God is already doing that.)    So lets get back to when Kevin, Eddie and associates will die. The answer was, “When Babylon falls to Cyrus” who we know as Trump. General Eric is even now taking down satanists everywhere. We see from Rev 12 that the Dragon is satan but it is also the god of Babylon, now become the DS, which is ruled by his fallen angels who inhabit primarily the satanists. Kevin's satanist cult is part of them.    It is obvious that the Dragon is the one in this text who seeks to devour the Man-child and Woman and Kevin believes and has stated that this is his job. But he is failing to accomplish it, which is the only thing biblical he adheres to, failing. He sent a demon to kill me just days ago but an angel who sees all stopped him. How many times you have tried and failed by the grace of God given to me.  Kevin, take notice in this text that you and your daddy are losers.     Rev 12:3-17 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (Notice that within the body of this Dragon is the whole earth. The seven world ruling kingdoms and their seed today and the ten continental divisions of the earth.)    Kevin would be proud to know that he is not in the body but the head, the part trying to devour the Man-child and Bride.) 4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: (So as a head of a body, he is guilty of the blood of the star glory saints he has been able to cast down, which puts him in the lowest hell next to his dad.) and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.   5 And she was delivered of a son, a man-child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. (Oops he slipped through Kevin's fingers again just as Jesus slipped through satan's fingers.   So he fails again and his dad is real mad at him for eternity. The Lord told me that Kevin's secret plan is to prosecute me just as the GCR happens. Sound familiar? Yes, satan's plan is to prosecute Trump with spurious slander so he can't get elected but he is going to be able to declass the DS Dragon in court before the whole world now!  Liberals are not smart.)    6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (So all of the above falling of satan and his satanist demons happens before this first 3 ½ years of the tribulation of the Woman Church.)    7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels (These are demons who rule over the dupped satanists who think he is god.); 8 and they prevailed not, (Kevin, you should have read the bible and you wouldn't have wasted your time just like your dad when he crucified Jesus to fulfill every good thing afterwards.)   I received this several times about these men. Psa 21:10-12 Their fruit wilt thou destroy from the earth, And their seed from among the children of men. 11 For they intended evil against thee; They conceived a device which they are not able to perform. (

Jesus Is For Us, and In Us  (audio) David Eells 5/31/23  Emmanuel (God With Us)  Winnie Osegueda 5/28/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I and a few others were on a train above ground going to the right, and it was a bright sunny day out. We were sitting at a rectangular table with white linen cloth on it. (This is the “right” direction feeding from the pure word.) I heard Debbie Fenske receive a word from the Lord, as she does sometimes, and she said, “Jesus is with us. He is with us!” (In the light, is with the presence of our King. Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And Deu 31:8 Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.) I suddenly had a revelation that Jesus was truly there with us. My heart was so full and enlarged, and I could feel the presence of the Lord there very strongly. (Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.) I could also feel that He (the Word) was in me, and in us, and was very big, even bigger than me. (1 Joh 4:4 Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.) Thank You, Lord for this reminder that You in us are greater than he that is in the world and that we can overcome the world. A verse that I received by faith at random is: Joh 5:35-36 He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. 36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.   Christ Inspects The Bride  Tianna Fire 4/20/23 (David's notes in red) I was at a street view in a major city, where I saw a giant lion about the size of a one-story building walking around. (The lion is Jesus, the lion of Judah.) I was on a corner of three connected streets. (The three connected streets represent a person's mind, will and emotions, represent psuche. Also, Jesus is the cornerstone. Eph 2:19-22 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.) The lion came down the street to my right, (the righteous) and it saw me and stared at me. I knew it was looking directly at me, but I had no fear or any negative feelings. (Christ in you is not fearful of anything, He has already conquered every evil.) 1Jn 4:17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. And 1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.) The lion stared at me for a long period and then he continued walking where he was going. (Jesus is the just and righteous Judge of the Father's will) NENT Rev 5:5 and one of the elders saith to me, Weep not; lo, the Lion, he of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the booklet and the seven seals thereof.) (When asking the Lord if the lion is Jesus or the enemy I received Dan 7:14 (notice 777) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.)    Our Lives Should Be An Offering  Claire Pienaar 5/16/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was on the Zoom Outreach and it was Christmas time (This is for the world Church, as we all await the coming of the man-child. It's at the end of the calendar year with much worldly festivities and distractions.) A man was in the meeting, and he was so quiet and he was sitting in front of the same big bay window that I have seen in my dreams before. It is a window of a hotel resort (for a temporary stay.) He was utterly miserable. He was away with extended family at a resort and these folks did not understand why all the Christmas festivities are wrong, and it upset the man. Julie sent a text to us to pray for him, and we did. (Julie means “child of God”. (The flesh is miserable because he knows he has to die to self and be weak to the weak. As we live in the light of the Word we realize that all these worldly idolatries supposedly in the name of the Lord are wrong and the old man is offended but the world doesn't know better and we are not to judge those who are without.) Then I was walking with my children through a mall or shop boulevard, but it was undercover as it was cold and wintery. I was wearing a black school blazer with black pants and a black long-sleeved T-shirt. (I asked the Lord why I dressed in black. I received this Word by faith at random: Ezekiel 40:39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt-offering and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering. According to the word received for this dream I thought the black top is burnt offering, the black pants is a sin offering, the black jacket is trespass offering. This is in line with Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.) I wanted to show my children the pictures of their baby scans when they were in the womb. I placed the photo on my lap and wanted to take a picture with my phone. My phone screen was black, and the baby scan picture blended so much with my black pants that my phone couldn't recognize the photo and could not focus in on it. (It is not the old man that we want to remember by photos. He is black and the enemy of God. We are hidden in Christ. God saw and formed us and sees us in the new life.) But in the dream I was telling my children that God created them and they are precious and look how small we all start out. It was a precious moment with my children in the dream. (Psa 139:13-17 For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!)  (I asked the Lord about my children and what they represent, and I received by faith at random John 21:4, in context 4-5 But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.) (So they represent the Children of Jesus.) Then we walked around the boulevard again and came back to a restaurant, and there were two red-haired teenage or young adult men behind me trying to pick-pocket me. (The seed of Esau, who had red hair, continues to try to steal what has been given to those who live the crucified life.) I noticed then that I had so much money flowing out of my pockets. (NENT Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but to steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have abundance. The Edomites are compulsive thieves and are trying now to steal from us.) There was so much money, and it was all different colours, just like the South African and Australian bank notes. I thought, “I better go count the money to see if anything's stolen” but in the dream, I didn't know how much I had in the first place, because it was a great deal of money that had suddenly appeared. (The FCR will bring this money.) (I asked the Lord for a Word concerning the money, and received this by faith at random: Luke 1:54-55 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy 55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. (The multi-colored money represents the promises of God in His Word through Jesus who gives us “whatsoever we ask for”. 1Jo 5:14-15 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. The colored notes could also represent the rainbow, which is a promise of protection in future days of judgement. Gen 9:13: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Also all races and colors will partake of the GCR.)  We went to a family steakhouse restaurant called “Spur” and tried to find adequate seating. It was busy, and there were many Africans there who were very interested in our money. (A steak house represents killing the flesh life in the fiery trial. The Africans spiritually represent those who walk in  darkness who are only interested in the promises, not in sacrificing the self-life. They are spiritually undiscerning and still have a love for the world and worldly things.)  Then we saw the same man from the Zoom Outreach who was unhappy about his apostate family. We went to him and prayed for him. We all held hands and prayed in the middle of the restaurant for the oppression to leave. It was short and he was grateful. He said, “Even though I am on holiday with family, I am still so alone”. So, we prayed again and offered him to come sit with us. He did not. We found a little wooden pew, very small and narrow, at the back of this steak house and sat there. (Pews are generally very uncomfortable, but it provides rest. When we present ourselves as a living sacrifice it is very uncomfortable, but we can rest and the promises applicable to us are then multiplied. The promises from the wooden cross is what we rest on.)  There were a few Asians and Africans who were sitting in similar pews, waiting for their “food”. As I sat down, I realized that the money must have multiplied now as it was weighing the right side down and it was poking a hole through the inside lining of my jacket. I did not know paper money could make holes in clothing, which tells you how much there was in my blazer pocket.  Then I asked the Lord who I represent here or is this dream only for me. I received John 4:21, with my finger on “Woman”,  21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.   Run and Endure the Race  Daniel Pienaar 5/17/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamed I was running on an athletic track, and then it became a cross-country race. It was so challenging. (Daniel means “God is my judge”.) Every stride I took was such a strain. It was a windy track. I didn't seem to be going fast. (Uneven rugged terrain of cross country is with hills and valleys, and represents the trials and tribulations we will have in this world. Joh 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.) Then I was back on the athletic track and I was so fast, I even beat Uncle Edwin. (Claire: Edwin means “Wealthy Friend”, and he likely represents the world. He is super-fast and fit in the natural.) (When we go into the wilderness we are in a position of weakness, and we go through many trials and tribulations and it makes our inner man stronger. It all works together for our good so that we may finish the race strong. Getting back on the track represents that the faith of rest empowered Daniel. Maybe it also represents the outpouring of the latter rain and many signs and wonders follow with quick and immediate manifestations.  Joe 2 21-23 Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah hath done great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month. Isa 40:31 but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.)    Bride Intercedes, Man-Child Wins  Claire Pienaar 5/22/23 (David's notes in red) I dreamed Daniel and I were on a rugby field. (This is a super high contact aggressive game.) (It represents our fight against the other side, the powers and principalities.) (Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 2Co 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but mighty before God unto casting down of strongholds.)  I was cheering him on and on the field with him, as we were simply hanging out. Then a whistle or siren blew and ALL our family and many, many others came running across the rugby field to fill the stadium. The real game was about to begin. (The first trump signals the start of the tribulation.)  I never saw the opposition, but Daniel was the only one on his team. (Our opposition is spiritual, never physical. Daniel represents that there is only ONE victor. Gal 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought. And 1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.)  (Daniel means “God is my judge”. The start of the tribulation is the start of the fulfilment of the rest of the prophesy of Isaiah 61 that Jesus stopped halfway through: Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.)  Daniel was wearing all white and his blonde hair was shining in the sun/Son. (His clothing represents being submitted to Jesus, justified by faith, washed in the blood and cleansed in the blood. Rev 3:5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rev 19:8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.) (1Jo 1:6-10 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (NENT Joh 8:12 Again therefore Jesus spake to them, saying, I am the light of the world: who followeth me shall in no wise walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.)  Daniel intercepted the ball immediately and started running. One of the invisible opposition knocked the ball out of his hand, and it was knocked out of the field. (Representing the trials and tribulations and the enemy trying to steal our kingdom benefits and heavenly position in Christ.) I was standing on the line, and I was screaming for all it was worth, cheering him on. (The bride intercedes for the man-child.) I then got onto the field once I caught the ball and sent Daniel a side pass. (The bride also participates with the man-child in the work.) I knew I couldn't get ahead of him as forward passes are not aloud. (She is not a Jezebel but walks beside Him. Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.)  I ran with him for a short time, encouraging him as he caught the ball. Daniel was now far in front of the opponents, and he could confidently kick the ball through the poles for a goal. It was fantastic! Everyone cheered and he was happy, but not boastful. (Because the victory belongs to Christ in us!) I woke up.   I received Eze 18:10 by faith at random, in context 18:10-18 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, 11 and that doeth any one of these things, and that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife, 12 hath wronged the poor and needy, hath taken by robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, 13 hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. (A wicked son cannot win in the contest. He is losing the game against his flesh). 14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins, which he hath done, and feareth, and doeth not such like; 15 that hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife, 16 neither hath wronged any, hath not taken aught to pledge, neither hath taken by robbery, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 17 that hath withdrawn his hand from the poor, that hath not received interest nor increase, hath executed mine ordinances, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity. (The righteous score all the points in this game which is for eternal life.)   Love of Saints Brings Deliverance  Samuel Fire 3/24/23 (David's notes in red) I saw myself in the center of a room. Then all the women in the UBM Outreach and local brethren all linked hands and surrounded me and closed in until all were sitting together with no gaps. Then all the men did the same in an outer circle. I felt them all praying in tongues and English, with God's Love and Grace. I felt this Holy Love pressing and squeezing with an intense comfortable heat, I then felt something start to bubble up, wriggling inside, up from deep within me. This was something dark and then it escaped out of my mouth upward like a volcano eruption. I then felt so much better! Praise the Lord! (I felt this meant that the surrounding of the Saints in layers of love, allowed deliverance. The fellowship and desire of the Lord's will allow us to be completely free in Jesus.)   Intercession  Tianna Fire 3/18/23  (David's notes in red) I saw myself holding a long string over the back of my shoulder, and I saw the string leading into a big giant black abyss. The string went down into the abyss and I saw the string wrapped around all the people that I have ever prayed for, including random people I don't know, all people that are not yet following Jesus. The string had no weight and was light and easy to hold and it didn't cut my skin. (The string represents our prayers of intercession, connecting people we pray for to the Throne of Grace and the Lord Jesus, our great High Priest, Who is always making intercession for us.) (Jas 5:16 Confess therefore your sins one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 1Ti 2:1-6 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; 2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times.)   I felt that they are held there by Jesus' faith and prayers through me, and by God's grace and intercession they won't fall into the abyss. They are dangling there because they haven't yet come to Jesus, but in God's perfect time, by His grace, they will either be pulled out or they will climb up using the string. (Jesus interceding through us is more powerful and effective than we know. Jesus' faith through us is keeping many souls back from the pit, even if they repent at the last moment like the thief on the cross did, they will come into the Kingdom.) If we don't allow Jesus to intercede through us and believe for others, they may fall into the pit. I felt that Jesus' faith and prayers through me was the only thing keeping them from falling.)  I felt this vision is to encourage us all to allow Jesus to intercede through us all the time and not give into the flesh that is constantly trying to stop us from communing with our Holy Father and seeking and being about His will and business. (NENT 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing. Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,) I felt this vision is to encourage us all to allow Jesus to intercede through us all the time and not give into the flesh that is constantly trying to stop us from bringing souls into the Kingdom. (1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing. See also: The Urgency For Effectual Prayer )   Prayers Of Warfare  Samuel Fire 12/16/22 (David's notes in red) I had a vision of the enemy, the kingdom of darkness, its principalities and powers, up above the earth in the air, formulating and sending attacks down on the people. (NENT Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spirituals of the wickedness in the heavenlies.  Psa 91:5-6 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6  For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.)   I then saw the prayers of the Saints going up from the earth. Because they prayed in the Spirit, the demons were unable to grasp or stop the prayers. (Mar_16:17  And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues. Act_2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act_19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 1Co_12:10  and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits: to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: 1Co_14:18  I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all.) I could see the prayers were separate, protected and encoded. (Praying in the Spirit is not with our understanding, it is in tongues. 1Co_14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. God can make tongues understood or not understood by men or demons.) The prayers were piercing through the darkness, straight past the enemy, and not hindered the slightest. The enemy could not block or stop them. There was no way that the enemy had the ability to know or decode the prayers. (Even when they do know they cannot do anything about it for God is sovereign over all vessels of honor or dishonor. NENT Rev 8:4-5 And the smoke of the incense for the prayers of the saints went up before God out of the angel's hand. 5 And the angel took the censer; and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it unto the earth: and thunders came, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.)   I then saw our Lord interceding and answering the prayers. It was like each prayer received was launch codes, that were enabling a full armament to be unleashed. He then sent forth fire and judgment raining down onto the enemy's kingdom. Each time the Saints prayed in the Spirit, there was more fire brought upon the enemy. (NENT Rom 8:33-34 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God that justifieth; 34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, was raised from the dead, who is at God's right, who also intercedeth for us.)   (Heb 7:25 Whence also he is able to save to the uttermost them that approach God through him, he ever living to make intercession for them.   Psa 11:6 Upon the wicked he will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. Notice God is doing this not man. We are forbidden by Jesus to call down fire on our physical enemies. Psa 18:13-14 Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14 And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.) I felt we have to keep feeding the Flames of Our Lord in prayer in Spirit. To keep giving a reason for Our Lord to send the attack back on the enemy. (NENT Eph 6:18 with all prayer and supplication praying at every season in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.) (Psa 50:3 Our God cometh, and doth not keep silence: A fire devoureth before him, And it is very tempestuous round about him.) I then felt that the darkest hour of warfare is when few people are alert or awake. We all need to consciously pray in the Spirit, and keep the pressure and attack on the enemy. 1Th 5:4-8 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: 5 for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.    Before The Throne  Tianna Fire 2/9/23 (David's notes in red) There is something in the spiritual realm that the Lord has allowed me to see at times; especially when a UBM sister has prayed, and I feel now the Lord wants me to write it down. It is difficult for me to put spiritual things into physical words.  Many times, when our sister has prayed, I am taken to a place and I've seen her or the Holy Spirit or Jesus in her, in a room, which seems to me to be like a courtroom. I have seen her speaking in front of the Father, who was up high and what felt was in a position like a judge, and all other spirits around were watching but waiting for the Father or judge.  The Father was completely focused and watching her, seeing and hearing every word she speaks, and Him answering the prayer at the very moment the words come from her mouth. I had a supernatural knowing that He is answering the prayer right at that moment, whether it completely manifests in the physical immediately or not, but that it is answered in spirit. He heard as soon as it was spoken or even beforehand, and He moves the moment it has been spoken. I have a feeling that He is pleased and it is His will.  There were also other spirits present all-around in like a 360 angle all around her and the Father, but in a lower position to the Father or judge. These spirits remind me of everyone else in a courtroom that isn't the judge or the lawyer or representative. They are like an audience or security, workers etc. in a courtroom, but instead of being in one spot they are spread out all around. I believe these spirits are Angels or maybe also brethren that are already in Heaven.  When I'm seeing this, it is ALL I see and feel and it's as if I am nowhere else but, in this place, and this is the most important thing, that I can't even think of anywhere or anything else.  After being in this place I feel much more spiritually clean. The feeling is like after having a lovely shower and feeling fresh and clean.   I sought the Lord as I was wondering how this sister's prayers go straight before the Father so often, and how is it, He answers them as soon as she prays, and how is it she is able to get to that place. I have only experienced this myself a few times, but have been there many times when our sister is praying.  I felt the Lord say that because she is aligning herself with the Holy Spirit or Jesus, she is allowing the Holy Spirit or Jesus to speak and intercede through her, and because it's the Holy Spirit, it is completely aligned with the Father and His will and Word and is therefore heard and answered when immediately spoken.   For me this has increased my faith and given me a desire to learn to always allow the Holy Spirit to pray through me, rather than me praying what I think God wants, or from myself or praying scripture from my own memory or religiously. Many times my prayers aren't answered and I feel now, a lot of the time it's because I am praying for what I think God wants or my needs rather than just allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through me.  ALL Glory to Father God! (Also the more we come into agreement with the Word the more our prayers are answered. Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.) SERVICES Ubbs Outreach Friday Night Worship CONTACT Share Your Testimony Request Prayer Technical Support Questions   SUPPORT US We are a non-profit organisation based in United States. Our goal is to empower and equip people to discover more about Christianity and point them to a life of happiness, peace and purpose. Donate

If you travel America's interstate highways much, you've seen lots of cars, lots of scenery, and lots of road kills. Yes, many animals still think they can beat the cars that are storming down the highway - and they're wrong. They end up as those carcasses we see by the edge of the road. It must be a full-time job just picking up all those road kills. At one spot on an interstate in Pennsylvania, they didn't pick up one of them. No, the news reported that a paving crew found a dead deer in their path and they didn't remove it. They just paved right over it! Great! No one could see it now, but they felt it! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Paved-Over Problems." It may seem unbelievable that people actually paved over an obstacle in the road. But don't be surprised, it happens all the time - in human relationships. Instead of dealing with a conflict or a problem, we just pave over it. But everyone's still going to keep hitting that bump in the road. And it's going to keep causing problems until you get it out in the open and get rid of it. God has never been a fan of paving over problems. Throughout the Bible, He consistently tells us to do quick repairs, to deal with things while they're small, to face issues rather than burying them. For example, in Ephesians 4, beginning with verse 26, our word for today from the Word of God, He says: "In your anger do not sin." Notice - God recognizes there will be times when we get angry, but there's a way to keep that from becoming a hurtful sin. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Don't pave over the disagreement. Don't pave over the hurt. Deal with it right away while it's small, before you stuff it and give the devil something he can turn into bitterness and resentment. In fact, the very next verse says: "And do not give the devil a foothold." A few verses later, God commands us to deal aggressively with any "road kill" that we might be tempted to just pave over. He says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." I know of no way to get rid of hard feelings and hurts and conflicts without getting them out in the open where you can face them, where you can deal with them. Sometimes that means taking the risk of confronting; "speaking the truth in love," as the Bible says. Even here, we're told in Ephesians how to - and not to - do it: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up." So, you confront in a building up way; not a tearing down way. First, you gently explain how you feel, recognizing that your feelings might be wrong. Let them explain what they meant to say or do - often understanding eliminates the issue. Extend to that person who hurt you the same undeserved forgiveness that Jesus extended to you. Then work together on steps that can help you walk together in harmony from here. The things you've tried to bury are like ticking time bombs or toxic waste dumps. The longer you wait to deal with them, the bigger, the deeper they will grow. Peace at any price usually means just war postponed...and bigger than it would have been if you had dealt with it sooner. How many marriages could have been saved, how many family relationships could have been saved, how many friendships, how many ministries, churches could have been spared devastating hurts and divisions if only someone had refused to pave over what should have been confronted and removed. Allow me to suggest a good time to do that in your life - today!

How to see a miracle every day.

· King of Hope · “Where is the one born King of the Jews? We saw his star and have come to worship him.” · Cry out to the God who can help you. · Knowing who God really is; Being real about how you feel; and Knowing God hears you. · What happens when God hears you? · First thing God does: God reacts · Psalm 18:7-8 - 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. · Can you imagine God getting angry on your behalf · Isaiah 40:31 - Those that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and no grow faint. · Second thing God does: God moves · Psalm 18:9-13 – 9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. · PIX – clouds and lightning · God is on the move toward you · Third thing God does: God shows up · Psalm 18:14-15 - 14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. · God showing up makes a difference. · Fourth thing God does: God saves · Psalm 18:16-19a - 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; · PIX – dipping vat. · Why does God react? He delights in you. · Psalm 18:19b - he rescued me because he delighted in me. · PIX – Sally Field · “The Father of Jesus is very fond of me.” LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Starter: Tell about a time in your life when you feel like God rescued you Dig Deeper: 1. Read Psalm 18:7-8 2. In your opinion, how would it feel for God to angry on your behalf? 3. Read Psalm 18:9-13 4. In this passage, how many different ways is the movement of God described? What does this tell you about God? 5. What would you say to someone who feels like God is not reacting or moving towards them? 6. Read Psalm 18:14-15 7. Notice the military imagery of these two verses. What does mean to you that God would “scatter arrows” on your behalf? 8. Read Psalm 18:16-19 9. Notice God's rescue is personal – he does not detail this to an angel. What does tell you about God?

Discernment isn't just learning God's will for our lives. We may have limited our understanding of discernment in the past, missing the opportunity to walk with and notice God in a deeper way through life and leadership. Take heart — we can grow in our intimacy with Jesus, receiving his love and noticing his presence all around us. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi interview Steve Macchia, author and founder of Leadership Transformations. They discuss his new book, The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, and equip you to discern God in new and life-giving ways.Resources for this Episode:Leadership TransformationsThe Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in EverythingSociety of Saint John the EvangelistYou can read the transcript here. 

Lectio Divina is the divine or sacred reading of Scripture. Create some sacred space for God and spend a few quiet moments engaging with his Word. As you allow the Spirit to lead, you may be surprised by where he leads you.   Once you've listened to this Scripture Experience podcast, then head over to the next episode and catch the interview with Rev. Dr. Stephen Macchia to hear where the Lord led him. Steve is the Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc (LTI). He is also the Director of the Pierce Center for Discipleship-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. And has authored over a dozen books. His latest is The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything. The exact verses read in this podcast are Luke 24:25-34, NIV   You can find Jodie at Jodieniznik.com Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @jodieniznik Download your free Lectio Divina Guided journal here.

Steve is the Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc (LTI). which focuses on the spiritual formation needs of leaders and the spiritual discernment processes of leadership teams in local church and parachurch ministry settings nationwide. He is also the Director of the Pierce Center for Discipleship-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is also a thought-provoking author of over a dozen books and has a new book out called: The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything. Take a few minutes to meditate on Luke 24:25-34 and then tune into this interview to hear where God led Steve.   Some highlights from our conversation: The downtrodden disciples and how they had their eyes closed. And how Jesus loving invited them to reconnect with him. What a burning heart is and isn't Steve's new book and how he desires to help us expand our definition of discernment. Steve's take on Lectio Divina and what it's a meaningful practice for him in her personal journey with the Lord. Steve's mentor, Reuben Job, and the influence he had on Steve's ministry.   The exact verses read in this podcast are Luke 24:25-34 in the NIV.   You can find Steve at https://www.stevemacchia.com/ You can find Reuben Job's prayer guides here You can find Steve's new book here

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "We need a common language and experience for how best to live a discerning life individually and collectively." –Steve Macchia  As we conclude season 17, we discuss The Appendices of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything. Inspired by Rueben Job, Steve's kind, gracious, humble and loving mentor, this 40-day guide to spiritual discernment introduces the reader to a common language and experience of discernment. This is helpful for teams and small groups who are seeking to live a discerning life in community. Discovering this lifestyle from the biblical text and in the life of the historic Church is inspirational for those in that that pursuit today. The Lord purposefully makes himself known to his beloved, and then invites us to practice a preference for him daily.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Suffering believers who are disabled precious and valuable treasures in disposable containers, to show God's power. -1. Notice God's power - seen in the church's experts in living with personal powerlessness, without despair. -v.7--2. Notice God's power - seen in suffering believers being physically squeezed, but not spiritually mis-shapen. -v.8-9--3. Notice God's power - in the form of 'the life of Jesus' at work in us, when we observe the 'death of Jesus' in the body of the suffering believer. -v.10-11--Applying- What if your value system needed a Biblical adjustment--What is precious and valuable- Colossians 2-3-Which things are worthless, which have value- 2 Timothy 2-20-In comparing life and death, what do we learn- Rom. 6-11

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "My true home is in Christ's heart and Christ's home is my heart. That's radical!" – Steve Macchia Today's episode focuses on chapter nine and the Epilogue of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything.  In this conversation we discuss the radical nature of the discerning life, a lifestyle marked by a transformed heart. With God as the Mastermind of the necessary renovations of our hearts and lives, we learn to trust him in all things. It's important that we remain open to the work of God as we are molded and reshaped by the love of God. When we rest in God and trust him completely, we notice his work in our midst with greater clarity. Let's say yes to the invitation to follow Jesus, and then discern his presence and power in all things. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “Asking ‘Why?' is the hardest and most important question to consider in virtually every circumstance of life.” – Steve Macchia In chapter eight of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, today's episode covers the very intentional and deliberative process of spiritual discernment for groups and individuals. Here we build on the foundation of a discerning life and enter into the phase of decision-making that grows from the radical lifestyle of practicing a preference for God. We begin with the importance of the question “Why?” which is the most important question to consider. From here we shift to identifying the most important question we are discerning together, which leads into the ten questions and phases for discernmentarians to consider.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “The discerning life requires a radical and renewed change of heart and mind.” – Steve Macchia Today we are diving into chapter seven of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything. We unpack the importance of shifting from a self-directed to a Spirit-empowered life, and the radical choices that implies. A renewed mind is a changed mind, transformed by the invitation to consider the various levels of soul care and its parallel to house care: chores, maintenance, emergencies, redecorating, upgrading, and renovating. To the very end, even on the cross, Jesus modeled for us a life of intentional focus on God's way…grace and forgiveness. He thereby invites us to live in full submission to his priorities, practicing a preference for God. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net  

"All spiritual discernment happens within a story-laced context." – Steve Macchia Chapter six of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. Here we unpack the importance of understanding and appreciating the various contexts that have shaped our lives…as well as the lives of those we are called to love and serve in Jesus. The gift of empathy is the goal – walking in each other's shoes and showing grace, mercy, kindness and love to those who are different from us. When we become respecters of various cultures, contexts, and story lines, we learn to embrace one another and live the abundant and discerning life. Our God-blessed pathway is always rich with empathy.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

God Warns of Worse Pestilence(Audio) David Eells - 2/20/22 Bill Gates Says Covid Risks Have ‘Dramatically Reduced' but Another Pandemic is Coming CNBC - Karen Gilchrist - 2/18/22 Bill Gates said Friday that the risks of severe disease from Covid-19 have “dramatically reduced” but another pandemic is all but certain. Speaking to CNBC's Hadley Gamble at Germany's annual Munich Security Conference, Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that a potential new pandemic would likely stem from a different pathogen to that of the coronavirus family. But he added that advances in medical technology should help the world do a better job of fighting it — if investments are made now. “We'll have another pandemic. It will be a different pathogen next time,” Gates said. Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, Gates said the worst effects have faded as huge swathes of the global population have gained some level of immunity. Its severity has also waned with the latest omicron variant. However, Gates said that in many places that was due to virus itself, which creates a level of immunity, and has “done a better job of getting out to the world population than we have with vaccines.” “The chance of severe disease, which is mainly associated with being elderly and having obesity or diabetes, those risks are now dramatically reduced because of that infection exposure,” he said.  Gates said it was already “too late” to reach the World Health Organization's goal to vaccinate 70% of the global population by mid-2022. Currently 61.9% of the world population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. He added that the world should move faster in the future to develop and distribute vaccines, calling on governments to invest now. “Next time we should try and make it, instead of two years, we should make it more like six months,” Gates said, adding that standardized platforms, including messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, would make that possible. “The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large. It's not like climate change. If we're rational, yes, the next time we'll catch it early.” Gates, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has partnered with the U.K.'s Wellcome Trust to donate $300 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which helped form the Covax program to deliver vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. The CEPI is aiming to raise $3.5 billion in an effort cut the time required to develop a new vaccine to just 100 days.  (Note:The Alliance believes that they will be able to reverse the side effects of the vaccines with Med beds. As per Operation Disclosure on 2/19/22 - "No more drugs/ addictions/ illness/ disease of any kind. The 3 Med Beds fix it all. Reverse all conditions.” However, God has a solution for all of it. See God's Vaccine)    Media Pushing “HIV Variant” Narrative as Cover Story for Vaccine-Induced Immune System Collapse   by: Mike Adams - 2/16/22 (Natural News) NYC Mayor Eric Adams has fired nearly 1,500 employees who refused to take the “clot shot” covid vaccine injection, claiming his intention was to “vaccinate, not terminate.” But thanks to the sky-high death rates emerging among the vaccinated, we now know that vaccination is termination. And we know that it won't be long before NYC is begging these 1,500 people to come back to work because they'll need to replace all the vaccinated workers who died. The VAERS system run by HHS is now reporting over 23,000 deaths following covid-19 vaccinations. When multiplied by the well-documented Under Reporting Factor (URF) of 41, this means we now have nearly one million Americans killed by covid vaccines (so far). Around August / September of last year, I publicly predicted we would see one million dead Americans by the end of March 2022. It seems we have already nearly reached that horrifying number before the end of February. Get ready for vaccine-induced AIDS to explode globally As bad as the one million deaths already are, that number is going to explode over the next several years as vaccine-induced “AIDS” explodes. As Ethan Huff wrote on Feb. 16th, 2022: Evidence continues to mount showing that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) “vaccines” are causing recipients everywhere to develop AIDS. Covid-19 Vaccine Induced Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or VAIDS, appears to be one of the more serious long-term adverse effects caused by the injections. In essence, the shots are destroying people's immune systems over time, leaving them prone to infections of all kinds.  A website known as The Expose (UK) found that covid vaccines demonstrate negative effectiveness, meaning they cause illness rather than preventing it: Using Pfizer's vaccine effectiveness formula, the Exposé found that the real-world effectiveness of the jabs is minus 183 percent, on average. This is absolutely astounding and highly disconcerting. “The lowest Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness was seen in the 40-49 age group in England throughout January 2022, recorded at minus 209.4%, with the 50-59 age group not far behind,” it was determined. As covid vaccines destroy immune function, people experience “AIDS” with high vulnerability to common infections The more covid vaccines people take — and the more time that passes since the injections — the greater the destruction of their natural immune function. Over time, their immune systems approach zero practical functionality, potentially causing them to be diagnosed with AIDS which simply means an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It can be acquired from vaccines, it turns out. With several billion people around the planet having taken these AIDS-causing vaccines, it means we're looking at a global explosion of AIDS diagnoses that makes people extremely vulnerable to common infections such as colds and flu. The very same vaccine manufacturers who caused this problem are at the ready, rolling out new “AIDS vaccines” using mRNA technology, supposedly to “treat” those who have suppressed immune systems caused by the first vaccines. In effect, this entire process involves destroying the natural immune system and replacing it with regular, high-profit vaccine injections that are FDA approved for annual use. FDA to approve ANNUAL covid-19 vaccines to make sure your immune system is destroyed each year That's exactly what the FDA is planning on doing, according to a shocking new video released by Project Veritas. That video, shown below, reveals a video recording of FDA Executive Officer Christopher Cole who explains the FDA is planning on approving covid-19 vaccines as annual injections. From Project Veritas: FDA Executive Officer, Christopher Cole: “You'll have to get an annual shot [COVID vaccine].  I mean, it hasn't been formally announced yet ‘cause they don't want to, like, rile everyone up.” Cole on President Joe Biden: “Biden wants to inoculate as many people as possible.” Cole on pharmaceutical companies: “There's a money incentive for Pfizer and the drug companies to promote additional vaccinations.” Cole on the financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies: “It'll be recurring fountain of revenue. It might not be that much initially, but it'll be recurring — if they can — if they can get every person required at an annual vaccine, that is a recurring return of money going into their company.” With each subsequent injection, of course, vaccine victims are being exposed to blood clot-inducing spike protein nanoparticles. These nanoparticles also cause myocarditis, neurological disorders, strokes and the accelerated growth of cancer tumors. This means in addition to seeing an explosion in vaccine-induced AIDS in the coming years, we're also going to see an explosion in cancer deaths. We predict that cancer deaths for 2022, when they are finally tallied, will exceed over one million Americans. That number may double again by 2023 or 2024. In all, these covid vaccines are quite literally poised to kill millions of people over the next few years through a variety of mechanisms (immune suppression, cancer growth acceleration, vascular inflammation, blood clots, etc.). And this will all spell record profits for hospitals and drug companies whose “treatments” for all these conditions are granted monopoly protections by the FDA (which is funded in large part by Big Pharma itself). This entire scheme is a murderous, criminal, junk science profiteering scam that's designed to carry out genocide against humanity while enriching the pharmaceutical giants.   SHOCK CLAIM: China has Released Another Bioweapon During the Olympic Games… a Hemorrhagic Fever Virus   by: Mike Adams - 2/14/22 (Natural News) In a bombshell interview with JD Rucker (see below), former Hong Kong virologist and CCP whistleblower Dr. Li-Meng Yan — who was right all along about the gain-of-function origins of SARS-CoV-2 — has publicly alleged that the CCP and PLA are releasing a new, engineered bioweapon onto athletes and participants at the Beijing Olympic games  This deliberate release, says Dr. Yan, is timed to infect participants from dozens of countries around the world who will then unknowingly transport hemorrhagic fever to their home countries, unleashing another wave of a global pandemic. Go to the 42:00 mark in the following video from JD Rucker, which has been hosted on both Rumble and Brighteon, to hear Dr. Yan explaining this in detail. JD Rucker is found on Substack.com. According to Creative Destruction Media, “Well-placed sources have informed CDMedia that the armed forces of the Chinese Communist Party, the People's Liberation Army, have launched another virus on its own people during the Olympics in Beijing, in order for athletes and diplomats to return home and infect the rest of the world, particularly the West.” CDM also explains how the virus has been engineered to extend its incubation time for maximum global impact: The virus has been altered inside a laboratory to make the incubation period longer than usual, now suspected at 3-4 weeks, in order to allow visitors to Beijing to return home with no symptoms during transit… The virus is said to be highly transmissible, and causes bleeding through multiple orifices of the body, even the skin. A prescription drug that's approved to treat multiple myeloma is known by China to function as an “antidote” to their engineered bioweapon What's fascinating here is that, according to Dr. Yan, the CCP is already aware of an antidote to their new hemorrhagic fever bioweapon, and they are actively hoarding the Johnson & Johnson drug that serves this function.   According to Dr. Yan's sources, the drug is known as Darzalex (daratumumab), and it is very expensive and somewhat uncommon. It has nowhere near the wide availability of ivermectin. The drug works by targeting the CD38 glycoprotein which is over-expressed in multiple myeloma patients. It is believed that the engineered hemorrhagic fever bioweapon causes a tidal wave of CD38 production in the body, interfering with immune function and causing sudden cell death (among other problems). From the Science Direct page on CD38: (We understand that the terminology used here is over our heads but there are technical people who need to know this.) CD38 is type II membrane glycoprotein that plays a role in cell adhesion, migration, and signal transduction. Additionally, CD38 is an ectoenzyme involved in generation of nucleotide metabolites, such as ADP-Ribose (Lee, 2006). CD38 expression is highly upregulated on human plasma cells and especially on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. From the NIH (National Institute of Health) / PubMed site, here's a study describing how the J&J drug targets the CD38 glycoprotein and treats multiple myeloma cancer: Daratumumab is a human monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a cell surface protein that is over-expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Preclinical studies have shown that daratumumab induces MM cell death through several mechanisms, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and apoptosis. The relationship between CD38 and NAD+ Although this is a simplification, there is a relationship in every human body between CD38 — the “bad” protein” — and NAD+ — the “good” molecule. NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. To put it simply, when NAD+ levels are too low, it causes an over-expression of CD38. Higher levels of CD38 lead to inflammation and cell malfunctions while also suppressing NAD+, leading to a self-reinforcing spiral into inflammation, aging, lack of cellular energy and other health problems. Dr. J.E. Williams, a complementary medicine and anti-aging doctor, has an excellent article explaining the dynamics of all this. It's called, “How to reach the 100 year life with NAD+“. If Dr. Yan is correct, our world is about to be subjected to something akin to “COVID 2.0” — but far worse if it's an engineered hemorrhagic fever bioweapon. Unlike the case with covid, there's no simple, low-cost, widely-available drug that we know of which will prevent 80% of deaths (or even close to that). Ivermectin has saved countless lives in the context of covid, but ivermectin is not effective against hemorrhagic fever (at least not that we know of). This underscores the importance of nutritional preparedness — getting your body's terrain ready for an onslaught of aggressive, deadly nanoparticles or “virus” strains which are apparently being deployed against humanity in an escalation of the global war against the human race. With covid, those who died the quickest were those with comorbidity factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory conditions. When it comes to hemorrhagic fever attacks, it may turn out that those who have poor nutrition and who live on processed, nutrient-depleted foods may be the most vulnerable.   The Anointing Breaks the Yoke Missy Pollock - 2/17/22 (David's notes in red) I dreamed I was in TN standing in a snow covered grassy area. I turned and said to Brandy and Amber, "You all have more snow here than we do in PA."  Then I turned and looked again and that quickly most of the snow had melted. I could see green grass except for some spotty areas that still had snow. I said to them, "The snow is almost gone!” (Our trials of faith through the pestilent snow, which in previous dreams were deadly to those who do not believe, but didn't harm us. In the teaching, God Warns of Coming Pestilence (3) we witnessed that we have seen this strange snow tested on us except it had no plague in it or at least we weren't affected by it. It did not melt with a match and instead of flakes it was short little needles or cylinders which you could see when you looked very closely. Spiritually, winter is tribulation according to Jesus and spring is new life. Will we have an early spring after the pestilence kills many.)   Then the scene changed and I was walking through the front door of David's house for the morning prayer meeting. Everyone was standing in the living room praying for each other in little groups. I thought, "This isn't the usual morning meeting of getting verses by faith at random and praying." (The prayers of the saints will bring the anointing of the Man-child to restore healing to God's people.) Then the next thing I knew a few of us were sitting on the floor with David and I was right next to him. As he was taking his bare right foot out of his slipper he was telling us that, before, he couldn't move or bend his foot and toes properly but now he could. (This is not the case in the natural.) I knew it was because he had been prayed for. (This healing of David's 'right foot' which gave him more mobility and flexibility in his walk represents the former and the latter rain anointing that will break the yoke from off of the first fruits Man-child ministers so that they can fully walk in the power and anointing of Jesus to heal and deliver the elect of God. Isa. 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.  And Rev. 3:7-12 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth: 8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name. 9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. 12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.) The scene changed again and I was with a sister standing in, what looked like, a lodge at the top of wide open stairs that went down to a landing and turned and went the rest of the way to the floor below. David walked by us and said to me quickly and kinda matter-of-factly, "Your knee should be good now." I checked to see and bent my right knee. I said happily, "Yes it's good.” (The healing ministry that the Man-child will bring to the people will be powerful and instantaneous through the spoken word. They will heal people's walks and restore them to righteousness.) Then this young man and woman came over to the top of the steps. As the man was going down the steps (Representing the humbling of the crucified life.) he stopped and was all excited telling her, as she stood at the top of the steps, "I have a really good dish I make," trying to impress her. Then he continued down the steps. Then I woke up. (The elect woman that will be coming out of the apostate church will be impressed with the food that she will be served throughout the great revival.) I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for the dream and he gave me: Eze. 46:9 (in context 9-10)  But when the people of the land shall come before Jehovah in the appointed feasts, he that entereth by the way of the north gate to worship shall go forth by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth straight before him. 10 And the prince, when they go in, shall go in in the midst of them; and when they go forth, they shall go forth together . (No one will leave the house of the Lord the way they came for they will leave with Jesus!!) We saw in Missy's dream above that the Bride is protected from the pestilent snow and that it melted away quickly. Here is a portion of a dream given to Eve Brast…    Unharmed by the Pestilent Snow   Eve Brast - 12/19/17  (Davids notes in red)  The dream started out with me floating in the Spirit above the whole scene of the dream. (Eve here is a type of the Bride of the Last Adam, Jesus, and she is in heavenly places by abiding in Christ.) I saw myself standing in the midst of a large crowd of people. There was a smaller group of people immediately around me. We were a separate little circle of people. (The inner circle was the true Christian believers around the Bride. These are bearing the fruit of Jesus but not yet arrived in the Bride.)  The configuration of the crowd almost looked like a target from the air.  I (Eve, as the Bride) was at the center and the small group of people around me being the next ring and then the rest of the masses being the outer ring. (The outer ring of unbelievers including tares, goats, apostate Christianity and the world. The target of the DS is primarily Christians because these people are satanists who hate Christians above all people. They are factious and full of witchcraft and sacrifice children for power from satan just like the faction in the Church. What they dont know is that they are part of this outer circle and the plague will take many of them down too.  But these are vessels of dishonor used of God, who wants to judge those in the outer circle who persecute and pollute the Bride with their leaven. These are a part of Babylon and do not have the Passover blood on their door posts to protect them from the plague. Part of these are Pharaohs army who will be destroyed at the spiritual Red Sea before the Christians go into their wilderness tribulation.) The small group immediately around me were looking to me for hope and reassurance. I was dressed in a dark blue top and blue jeans that were given to me by David. (The David Man-child company dressed the Bride in the heavenly works and walk of Jesus, meaning the doctrine that brings the works of Christ is being taught by the Man-child Davids to the Bride.) … They were desperately clinging to my clothing and looking toward me as their example. (They have seen that Jesus in the Bride is an example of how to live above the curse mentioned in Deuteronomy 28. This curse is everything that is detrimental to man. Galatians 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (there is safety under the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus which the apostates were not taught.)  Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Remember according to our type there was a Passover from a plague before the Israelites went into the wilderness, which Rev.12 and 17 proclaim to be the 7 years of tribulation.)How do we walk under the Passover blood? 1John.1:5-7  And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (His Word is light) 6  If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7  but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light [of His Word], we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (And if you are cleansed from sin, you are not under the curse. This clothing of faith in the Word and works of God will save them and they seem to know it.) Exodus 15: 26  and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee.) It was very dark all around us except for a light that shown down on me from above that got dimmer and dimmer the further away from me that the people were. (The further we are from the glory of God, which is the Christ likeness in the Bride, the more of the curse we are susceptible to. The more we add or subtract from the Word the more we are susceptible to the curse.) Rev.22:18-19  I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: 19  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. (Notice: God will put the plagues on those who depart from the Word.)(What were they afraid of that made them want to be close to the Godliness of the Bride and cling to her clothing? The Plague.)  Snow was falling down upon all the people and as it landed on the faces of the dimmer people they began to fall to the ground dead and dying in agony. (The pestilent snow the Lord told us would come in parts 1 & 2 of "God Warns of Coming Pestilence" the plague was spread from above; by many chemtrail planes and the mRNA vaccines.) I asked for a word by faith at random concerning the pestilent snow that was falling on the outer masses of people and received: Hosea 7:10 (10-12 in context) Hosea 7: 10  And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto Jehovah their God, nor sought him, for all this. 11  And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria. (Their faith is always in man who cannot save and in man's vac/cines, which are killing them.)  12  When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; … Then I was pulled into my body and the rest of the dream continued from my perspective inside myself. I was telling the group around me, "Don't worry! Look", and then I lifted up my face toward the heaven and let the snow fall on my face and opened my mouth to allow the snow to fill my mouth. It was a very strange snow to me. It wasn't cold nor did it melt upon coming in contact with the warmth of my mouth.  I asked for a word by faith at random concerning myself in the dream of opening my mouth and the snow being like manna to us instead of the curse and judgement and my finger was on: Isa. 60:1 "for thy light has come" (in context 1-5) (Notice: A light shined on the Bride for she said in the dream "a light that shown down on me from above”.)  Isaiah 60: 1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. (Speaking to the Bride) 2  For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3  And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Notice: The righteous from among the nations clung to the Bride as in the revelation above.  They clung to her who was in the light of the glory of God for their safety.) 4  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. 5  Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee. (What is the abundance of the sea that will come to the Bride? It is the peoples of the world with their riches, spiritual and physical. Rev. 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.)… The snow had a fluffy texture to it and I chewed it and swallowed it. (This is how faith in the promises saves us. If you lose faith you lose the Passover. Beware lest your conscience is defiled by willful sin because you will not have faith. I John 3: 21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; 22  and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. Beware of willful disobedience or you will not be under the blood.  Hebrews 10: 26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.) …The snow reminded me of what I'd always imagined the manna from heaven was like to the Israelites. (Why is it death to some but life to others?  Because it represents the Word. Jesus said He was the manna and He is the Word made flesh. The Word is life to those who believe and the curse of death to those who don't. Deu.30:19  I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;)  Only this had no taste at all and was completely harmless to me. I felt no threat whatsoever. The people around me were amazed that I wasn't harmed by it the way everyone in the outer circle was. This gave them hope and courage that they too could survive the judgement. … Then I woke up. I asked for a word by faith at random for this dream and received Pro. 31 (in context 8-31) (These are all the qualities of those who are in the Bride, which Father is using me to represent in the dream.) (These are also her works or garments) I think it's interesting that verse 8 begins, "Open thy mouth" !  I'll begin the quote from there.  Pro. 31: 8  Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. (The Bride will speak for the true people of God who are in covenant with Him just like it was in Esther and Song of Solomon.) 9  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.  10 A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. 11 (The Bride is mature and beautiful to the Lord, her husband, and the much larger Church is not.  Song of Solomon 6: 8  There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. 9  My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. ) The heart of her husband (Jesus) trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain (She bears much fruit for him). 12  She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.  13  She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. 14  She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar (even from the old testament) . 15  She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. 16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it (Jesus said the field is the world, which she will inherit) ; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard (The Lords vineyard). 17  She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms (Her strength is the arm of the Lord). 18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night. 19  She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle (To clothe her children in the righteous works of Jesus). 20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy (To build them up through the Gospel). 21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. (She eats pestilent snow for breakfast.) 22  She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (Clothed in the righteous acts of the saints as in Rev 19).  23  Her husband (Jesus) is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24  She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25  Strength and dignity are her clothing (She is dressed up with the works of Jesus) ; And she laugheth at the time to come (She has no fear of the future curse or the snow). 26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue (She loves the brethren). 27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness (She pleases her husband and teaches her children and clothes them). 28  Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: 29  Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. (Just like the Bride in Esther and Song of Solomon excelled above the rest of Gods people.) 30  Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised (She is humble to the Word because she fears the Lord). 31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. (She bears the fruit of her husband, Jesus. And she eats all the pestilent snow to save God's people.)    Learning to Walk in the Pestilent Snow by Faith Winnie Osegueda - 2/19/22  I had a very quick dream I was at my grandmother's old apartment building. (The Grandmother's apartment building represents the original Church and the Gospel that we heard from the beginning. It;s an apartment building because it represents sanctification from the world and its ways.) My Husband, Chuc, called me outside to see all the snow that had fallen onto the ground. (Chuc represents the Lord my heavenly husband?). I went out but I did not see Chuc. (Our walk with the Lord as His disciples requires that we walk with Him by faith and not by sight.) I could see how much snow there was out there, and there was about a couple of feet. It was also very dark out. (This snow represents the pestilent snow like in the previous revelations.) I could see some footprints on the ground that were almost filled with snow, as if the people were walking on it when the snow was initially falling, but now they were gone and more snow had fallen on those areas. (This is an indication that people used to be there but now they're not. Could this represent all the casualties from the first pestilent snow of CV-19 and the mRNA vaccine pandemic? This second snow that fell could represent this worse plague coming.) I laid down in the snow and took a nap, but I knew it was time for me to get back in my grandmother's building. (Back to the teachings of the ancient Church that will save.) So I sat up and at first started crawling back towards the door before I could get up. (Learning to walk by faith in God's promises.) I could see my handprints in the snow. I wondered where Chuc was, as I could no longer see him and thought he might be back inside the house. Then I woke up.  Below is a good vision but we need to clarify what the Word says concerning women and the office of a “Prophet” before we continue on with the following vision. (1Co.14:33) As in all the churches of the saints, (34) let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak. The “silence” here is prohibiting teaching and taking authority, as we can see from, (1Ti. 2:12): But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. Paul did say that a woman can pray or prophesy. (1Co.11:5) But every woman praying or prophesying… So this “silence” or “quietness” does not include praying, because that is to God and not to men. Neither does this include prophesying, because that is from God and not the woman. Neither does this include testimonies if required, etc. A prophetess has the gift of prophecy but cannot have the office of Prophet, because a Prophet is an overseer, and an overseer has authority to teach and command in the Church. Women can have many ministries but not the five-fold ministries. Only men are permitted to be bishops, or “overseers,” which include the offices of the five-fold ministries of apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist, and their personal lives must be above reproach. (1Ti.3:1) Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop … The Greek word for “bishop” is episkopé and it means, oversight, supervision, overseership.”  In the modern church, and in many cases, in the non-Spirit-filled churches, a “bishop” is somebody who has authority over the pastors, but that's not Scriptural. In the early church, the overseers were the five-fold ministries of apostles, pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists. They were overseers of the people. Also, they were called “elders”; it's just another term that emphasizes different aspects of their ministry. (1Ti.3:1) Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; (4) one that ruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Please read our PDF book titled, Word Women and Authority   The Washtub Vision  Hollie L. Moody (David's notes in red) The Background:  Several months ago, I felt impressed of the Lord to read repeatedly 1 Kings 17:1 and 18:1, 41-45. As I wondered and pondered why these verses of Scripture seemed so compelling to me, my attention was once again drawn to 1 Kings 18:1; in particular, where it reads: "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah..." As I finished reading this verse of Scripture, the Lord began to speak to my heart. "Did Elijah stop being a prophet when My word wasn't coming to him?" The Lord asked me.This question from the Lord struck my heart and took my breath away. I myself had been enduring a time of great silence from the Lord. Yet even though the silence from the Lord was distressing in many ways, I continued to feel the Lord's presence with me.Over the past several months, it was as if one tragedy after another was striking my family and loved ones. There were numerous stressful situations occurring at the same time. A spirit of intense weariness settled upon my heart. I usually felt as if I were bracing myself for the next blow to strike.As I continued to seek the Lord for answers and direction, I had a very strange vision. This vision was so strange to me that I almost dismissed it as silly and unimportant. Yet, it haunted my thoughts. After some time, I felt clarity from the Lord in regard to this simple, "silly" vision.I would like to share this vision, and what the Lord spoke to me in regard to this vision, with others; especially those prophets of the Most High God who also may be enduring tragedies and/or a time of silence from the Lord.The Vision:  In the vision, I saw a long line of silent men and women. Each of the men and women had on a brown cape that touched the ground and they were staring ahead intently. I glanced in the direction the men and women were looking to see what they were staring at. To my surprise, I saw a large washtub such as was used in bygone days to wash clothes. Hovering over the washtub, I saw an immense hand.  I watched as each of the men and women approached the washtub. The large hand plucked up each man and woman one by one, and very deliberately placed that person (still wrapped within their brown cape) inside the washtub. Then began what I can only describe as a "wash cycle." During this time of being "washed," each of the men and women were being swirled madly around within the washtub. Soap and water were in their eyes, ears and even in their mouths. The hand also "scrubbed" each of the men and women on a scrubber, then would place them back into the soapy, turbulent water. (All of this washing cycle represents the trials and testings and tribulations in which decisions are made to obey the word and stay in the fire.)As I continued to watch all of this, I became aware of the soft murmuring of a voice. I couldn't make out the words that were being spoken, but the sound of the voice was gentle and soothing. At the end of the wash cycle, the men and women appeared absolutely exhausted. Then began the "rinse cycle." The wash water was drained from the washtub, and clean water added. A bucket appeared grasped in the large hand. I watched as the large hand repeatedly poured bucketful after bucketful of water over each of the soapy men and women. The voice continued to murmur gently and soothingly to the men and women, but with the soap and now the water in their ears, they didn't seem able to hear the sound of the voice.At the end of the "rinse cycle," I watched as the large hand set the bucket aside, grasped each of the men and women one by one, and placed them into an old fashioned wringer. I gasped with dismay as I saw each of the men and women being completely flattened and having the water pressed from them as they were put through this wringer. Then, the men and women were placed gently into a basket. By the time this entire process was completed, the men and women were totally limp and exhausted. Then another hand appeared so that there was now a set of large hands. The hands reached into the basket and gently removed the men and women one by one. The set of hands carried each man and woman to a clothesline and began to "hang" the men and women on the clothesline. As I stared at the men and women hanging on the clothesline, I saw that each of them had their eyes closed; almost as if they had fallen asleep after the ordeal they had just endured. I then began to faintly hear the sound of a gentle breeze. This breeze seemed to envelope each of the men and women, and they were gently swaying back and forth on the clothesline. As the breeze gently blew on the men and women, the soft voice continued to murmur to them.Gradually, the men and women seemed to become aware of the sound of the voice. They opened their eyes, began to slowly look around them, and became more alert.The hands then took each of the men and women down from the clothesline. The men and women stood silently, as if waiting for something to happen. I realized that during this whole process, not one of the men or women had resisted, or even spoken. As I stared at the men and women, I saw them become quietly animated. I noticed they were each staring off into the distance at something. I turned to see what it was they were gazing at, and saw a small cloud. The small cloud appeared as if from over the horizon. Then, each of the men and women set off towards the small cloud, and the vision ended… 1 Ki. 18:41-46 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot , and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in a little while, that the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. (This great rain after the drought represents the Church coming out of the great falling away and into the latter rain.) And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel: 46 and the hand of Jehovah was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  [anzac] THE WASHTUB VISION - Hollie L. Moody(The revelation above represents the trials and tribulations that are sanctifying God's people. Those same trials and tribulations will take out the wicked as in the text below: Isa. 63:1-6 Who is this that cometh from Edom, (The factious who persecuted their chosen brothers.) with dyed garments from Bozrah? (Meaning their sheepfold) this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my wrath, it upheld me. 6 And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.     Select Language Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Basque Belarusian Bengali Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Cebuano Chichewa Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Corsican Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Esperanto Estonian Filipino Finnish French Frisian Galician Georgian German Greek Gujarati Haitian Creole Hausa Hawaiian Hebrew Hindi Hmong Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Javanese Kannada Kazakh Khmer Kinyarwanda Korean Kurdish (Kurmanji) Kyrgyz Lao Latin Latvian Lithuanian Luxembourgish Macedonian Malagasy Malay Malayalam Maltese Maori Marathi Mongolian Myanmar (Burmese) Nepali Norwegian Odia (Oriya) Pashto Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Romanian Russian Samoan Scots Gaelic Serbian Sesotho Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Spanish Sundanese Swahili Swedish Tajik Tamil Tatar Telugu Thai Turkish Turkmen Ukrainian Urdu Uyghur Uzbek Vietnamese Welsh Xhosa Yiddish Yoruba Zulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version  

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “Practicing biblical hospitality is first and foremost toward the lost, the least, the lonely, and the left behind.” – Steve Macchia Chapter five of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. In this conversation we explore the meaning of biblical hospitality, and how Jesus invites us to become receivable to all who cross our path. We acknowledge that our preparation is one of the greatest signs of love, not only in the external ways we are hospitable, but more importantly, in our gracious hearts. Imagine if our churches were known for being an hospitable place, where grace was our primary offering. As Jesus welcomed all, so shall we. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Scripture of the Day:   Philippians 4:6“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Don't Be Anxious About the OutcomeWe've been talking these past few days about rolling your cares over on the Lord. He is more than able to handle your situation. Amen. No matter how bad it may seem to you – He is able to make it go away and deliver you from all your troubles. Glory to God! When we roll our cares over on Him, we are demonstrating that we have Faith in His Word. Since Jesus IS the Word, we are demonstrating that we have Faith in Him. Amen! A verse in Psalm 37 helps us to see what Peter was talking about in our verse of the day just a little more clearly. It says: “Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”  AMEN! The words “roll” or “cast” or “commit” are all the same root words which means to TRUST him. Amen. Isn't that what the Bible is saying in these verses? To just TRUST HIM? Notice God is not going to TAKE your cares away. It does not say that at all. YOU are going to have do something with them. You can either cling to them and hold onto them – and be completely responsible for them…or you can GIVE THEM TO HIM. Some misguided people will ask me to pray that “God will help me get through this.” That is the wrong attitude to have. You should be praying that God will deliver you from this. Not get you through it. You should be praying that you are giving the care of this situation to God and then you thank Him (in advance) for the deliverance.  If you insist on worrying about your situation, whatever it is, then you are telling God that He is not in charge – YOU ARE. And God will not TAKE anything from you. Not even your cares.  Think of it like this… When you got born again, what did you say? In some form or fashion, if you truly asked Jesus to be your Savior, you probably said something to the effect, “Lord I give you my life.” Am I right? What good will your sin filled life do for Jesus. NOTHING. But, when you GAVE HIM your life – He became responsible for it. And the only way He could save you from your sinful self was to destroy that sinful person and then give you a NEW LIFE – a rebirth – a BORN AGAIN spirit that is the NEW YOU. But it did not happen until what? Until YOU gave HIM permission to do it! Glory to God! Don't shout me down when I'm preaching good. Amen! Is all of this starting to make sense now! I pray it is. I pray a light of revelation just switched on inside your spirit man. Glory to God. I want to pray for you right now…Let's pray that this new light of revelation will allow you to begin to walk with the Lord with no cares for this world, no cares about your life, no cares about whatever is plaguing you right now. Let's pray for absolute deliverance from all of your cares and all of your troubles. Why? Because He says you can do that! Amen! Let's Pray! Until next time, this is Pastor Bob Thibodeau reminding you from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in the Living Bible to “Always Keep on Praying!”  Be blessed in all that you do! Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com/ (https://podcastersforchrist.com). And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today. You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2 (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2)

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “The discerning life is relational and based primarily in a listening presence.” –Steve Macchia Chapter four of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. A discerning life is best fulfilled in the presence of one another, as we offer grace upon grace to each of our relationships. It's important to recognize the power of listening and learn to love and honor one another in spite of our quirks and idiosyncrasies, our gifts and abilities, our backgrounds and ethnicities. When we are fully present, we are expressing our desire to be both with and for one another, as was embodied perfectly in Jesus. Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.Last time The first commandment is to worship God only, allowing no false god to capture our heart.The rest of the Decalogue, and in fact the entire Torah, depend on this spiritual principle.The second commandment, in a sense, concerns concretely disobeying the first -- that is, creating an idol, which naturally competes with God for our attention, energy, loyalty, and worship.TextSecond commandmentExodus 20:4-6: You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.CommentsNo physical images of God were permitted.Amazingly, among the religions of the ancient Near East, only Judaism is aniconic; all others represent their deities through statues and other imagery.The Jews did, however, portray him in numerous literary images (as in the poetry of the prophets and Psalms).Nature worship is a serious error.In the ancient world, people worshiped the sun, moon, and stars; forces of nature; animals; persons (Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was a "god"); various spirits; and so forth.Creator and creation are separate (see Romans 1). If the creation were divine, or everything was God, there would be pantheism. Yet biblically they are separate.Although the creation reflects the glory of the creator (Psalm 8, 19), this reflection must not be taken as ultimate.The Holy of Holies was empty. There is no image for two reasons:God may not be seen; he is wholly transcendcent and holy.We are the image of God (Genesis 1)! We represent him on this planet.Sin has consequences, and may affect several generations. God's goodness would extend to 1000 generations (such an imbalance!).Jealousy occurs in two varieties: one healthy (the rightful jealousy of a spouse; the jealousy of God), the other unhealthy (the self-directed jealousy, which is related to envy).As in 1 John 1-2, love without obedience is not love at all.Notice God's benevolence: punishing for a few generations, blessing for a thousand.If idolatry is present in our lives, we will not be able to honor God's name as holy -- and thus the connection to the third commandment.Thought questionsIs there anything more important to me than God, any idol -- whether material or immaterial -- coming between the Lord and me? We often speak of priorities; the Bible speaks of idolatries.Are we drawn to literal idols - as in Hinduism, Buddhism, and several other religions?Possible idols: money, government, power, lifestyle, spouse, child, friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, technology, education, sport, popularity, reputation, health.. Bible (bibliolatry), church, a spiritual leader, etc. can also be idols.In 1 John 5:21, the idol is a warped concept of Jesus (in that case, a God not truly incarnate). Men, are you putting career ahead of your family? ahead of the Lord?Women, are you putting any relationships ahead of the Lord? your family? anything else?Do I understand that idolatry dogged ancient Israel, and is a major reason why God's people wandered in the desert as long as they did?Have I been wandering? (Could the reason be some form of idolatry?) Next time: the third commandment.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "Unless I learn how to live a contemplative life, I will continue to live a manipulative life." – Steve Macchia Chapter three of The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, is the topic of today's conversation. Here we unpack the importance of listening to God prayerfully, expectantly, and faithfully. We discover a life of obedient surrender to God by first and foremost listening to his still small voice, in the Scriptures, in our prayer closets, and in our spiritual practices. Listening is the essence of the discerning life, and unless we practice this all-important attribute our spiritual sensibilities will be dulled in the daily pursuits of our lives.  Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott “Discernment is a lifestyle of noticing God in everything, practicing a preference for God in all aspects of our life and service to others.” –Steve Macchia We are excited to launch the 17th season of The Discerning Leader Podcast with a focus on Steve Macchia's newest book, The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything (Zondervan Reflective, 2022). Steve and his conversation partner, Matt Scott, commence this new season talking about the importance of spiritual discernment as a lifestyle for all leaders and learners. Today Steve and Matt lay the groundwork for this new series. All who pre-order the book are invited to join the online, author-guided, self-paced Reading Retreat. Pre-order your copy of the book, find all the details at www.stevemacchia.com - and sign up today! Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

“GO” This is more than a Theme for a year; it's a life time commitment. The most effective way to do it, is to just “do it” Matthew 28:19 (NIV) - 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   This instruction is very clear; however, it would appear the problem lies by the implementation of this command, not a suggestion. Acts 4:12 (NIV) - 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”   If we don't “Go” how will mankind be saved? What is God's heart toward the lost? 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) – The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 1 Timothy 2:4-5 (NIV) – 4Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. John 3 :16-17 (NIV) – 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. The question is, why would God delay the coming of the Lord, when I'm sure He knows it is impossible that the whole world will repent? The only answer can be, that God knows it is POSSIBLE This is where you and I come into God's great plan of salvation We have been called to “GO” 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NIV) – 19That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as through God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. I thought about calling this message “It's Time to Go” but I was afraid you'd get up and leave. But one thing is for sure:  We have reached a great crossroad as a church… We have come to a STOP sign - and pause for the cause. We look right and left and consider God's will, we must not just sit and idle, we should rather turn the throttle and say, it's GO time!   Mark 16:15 - “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. What are the first 2 letters of the gospel?  GO! Psalm 126:6 - Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with them. Nothing happens until we go! If no one reaches no one get touched   Acts 5:20 - Go, stand, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.     Most Christians are standing, but you must stand out. Many Christians are breaking some ground; but you must breakthrough. Not many are going, don't you be one of them! God reminded me of the Prophet Jonah. How similar this story is to many Christians today? Jonah 1:1-5 (NIV) – The word of the Lord cam to Jonah son of Amittai: 2”Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. 4Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5All the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. NOTICE GOD called him!! When God said GO to Nineveh – Jonah decided to Go to Tarshish Verse 2: You must be aware that God sees the ungodly world and how desperately they need to hear about the Saviour. What we learn from Jonah is that there are consequences to our disobedience Verse 5: Notice the indifference of Jonah The sailors were struggling for their lives, and Jonah had the answer -- he was taking a nap! Romans 13:11 (NIV) – And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber. Because our salvation is nearer now that when we first believed. Is Jonah's life a reflection of your life.  How many people will end up in hell because you didn't go What are the regular excuses you make because you are not Going? Jonah 4:2 (NIV) – He prayed to the Lord, “Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. What are you allowing into your life that is causing you to choose comfort, convenience, avoidance? What are you afraid of when it comes to sharing your faith? 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) – On fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Do you really believe that you are called to GO?      

Bride Leads Apostates From Captivity (Audio) Sandy Shaw, 9-23-19  (Don and Merlene transcribed) (David's notes in red) This dream starts with me, Merlene and Angelica getting into a nine passenger dark blue SUV. (The “Nine passenger” speaks of the nine fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control” which the Bride has.  The “dark blue" represents the heavenly places in the night.). David (as a type of the Man-child) had told us (as a type of the Bride) to go to Kentucky to pick up a family to bring them back. (We are called to invite the “Church" and her children to come out of Babylonish bondage back to their Promised Land and into the safety of refuge through the gospel.)  (I don't know exactly what was going on in the U.S., but we could really feel a divide, even more so than now. [The Right is Rebelling against the illegal D.S. communist depopulationists who are fighting against them.] Earthquakes had started, but nothing major. A curfew had started. (Everyone had to be in at 10 o'clock.) (Martial Law is coming because of the D.S. anarchists bringing judgments on the US and the apostate Church through their vaccine plague. During this lockdown the Alliance will be arresting the DS actors.) When we got to the address and knocked on the door, the mother answered. She was upset and frantic. She hadn't seen her husband for several days. She didn't want to leave until he got back. (This husband is the apostate leadership who were hirelings and fleeing DS retaliation and left the flock. This reminds us of a recent dream of a mega church leader who was no longer in that Church but a small unknown congregation.  He was seeking truth from me and our materials. I can imagine that since Babylon burned the temple and church leaders houses of that day, a mega church would not be safe due to DEW weapons and anarchists.  Man made Tornados just hit several churches and old folks homes.).  We said, “We could wait for a little bit, but we are going to have to leave.” (For the refuge in the wilderness) So Merlene, Angelica, and I started to clean her house. We fed the kids and bathed them; the oldest being 6, then 5, then 3, then 1-1/2 and a new born baby. So after we bathed them, we got their clothes and put them in bags. (These are all dreamers and Angelica could also represent the angels, all of which are working now to awaken the sleeping Church. This washing from sin and clothing with Christ's works qualifies them to leave the mother church and escape judgment.) I told the mother, “We're going to have to leave.” She said, “No, my husband is not here.”  I said, “Your husband had called David and Michael Hare and said, “The Lord said, ‘Come and pick them up. (The Bride is called by the Lord to invite them to come out of captivity to their Babylonish thinking of the traditions of men and bring them to the refuge.). We were told to do this and that's why we are here. So you can't say, No, because your husband wanted you to come with us. (The Jezebel spirit in the apostate Church will not allow them to obey the Lord who is their real husband.)  I said, Its getting late. We need to get on the road.”  She said, “Well, take the kids. I'm going to stay here and wait for him.”  (The Church's apostate leaders are their husband who sow the false seed in the flock.  They are hirelings that leave the flock when the wolf comes like Jesus said.  The elect children will get cleaned and clothed and qualified to leave the mother “Church” and come under the Bride's leadership.) Merlene said, “These babies need you. Especially the last two.” (The apostate churches are only qualified to lead babies.  When they get past teaching that Jesus is the Son of God who saved them they get into error.  They can only feed milk.)  She just stared at Merlene. And knew she just couldn't do it. (Because of Babylonish bondage to the traditions of men. The hierarchy is the last to come out from among them.).  The mother then went into a room and came back with papers. There were birth certificates and a notary paper. She had put each of our names on that paper giving legal custody and rights of the kids. (And so it will be that God will legally, by the Word, give those who come out from among them the right to enter the true Kingdom of God.  They will come under God's true authority and leadership.).  So Merlene, Angelica and I were talking, “Well, what do we do? We don't feel right about leaving her here, but she's the one not being obedient. We were told to pick them up and their stuff and leave.” Then I said, “I don't want to be disobedient.” After that Angelica said, “Shall we throw lots?” Our question was, “Lord, shall we leave NOW?” And we got three heads for “yes". So I told the mother again that she was not obedient to her husband or to the Lord. She said, “Just take my babies.”  (God just told Eve that “He was going to pour out a plague on the rebellious and then we would know things are beginning in earnest". The mother apostate Church will not escape the judgments. Only those who come out from among them as God said in Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Notice, its only “my people” who will come out of the harlot Church and escape the plagues.) We put them in the vehicle all in car seats. Merlene sat in the back with the youngest and Angelica sat up front with me. We had been driving for awhile still in Kentucky. But I see a sign that said, “So many miles to Clarksville, TN.” (Meaning Clark's city in TN. I believe this speaks of the city of David, Jerusalem, the Bride, who will rule like Esther, over the true Church of the come outers. I have been used by God as a type of the David Man-child and my middle name is Clark.  I jokingly tell people this is short for Clark Kent.)  Before we crossed into Tennessee, I got pulled over. There were two cars that were completely black. We could only see their lights. When I pulled over, there was one in back of me and one in front of me. (From the description I would guess these officers are from the dark side. They could represent spirits seeking to resist the apostates being freed but the Bride had a legal spiritual right to these children so they must let them go.) The two officers in front got out and started going around our vehicle with their flashlights on. Another officer that was in back came to my window and I rolled it down. I said, “Hello officer, I'm sorry, if I did anything wrong, I'm not aware of it.” He didn't say anything and walked in front of the SUV. He came back and asked for my driver's license. Then he asked me, “Whose kids are these?” I said, “They're mine.” (The children of God are given to the Bride as in Esther and Psa 45:14-16  She (The Bride) shall be led unto the king in broidered work: The virgins her companions that follow her Shall be brought unto thee.  15  With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led: They shall enter into the king's palace.  16  Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth. A text given to us many times about the apostates comeing under the Bride was spoken to the Bride, Jerusalem. Isa 49:18  Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride… 21 Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?  22  Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.) He handed me back my license. “Remember, you must all be home by ten.” (This means all need to be under the Bride in spiritual refuge before the Martial Law curfew so they can spend their time bearing fruit. God told Eve he was going to pour out a plague, as we are seeing now, on the rebellious and then we would know things are beginning in earnest. Biden says we are entering a dark winter of sickness and death when 15,600 Americans will be dying a week but conservative estimates are 25,000 and these will be overwhelmingly vac/cin/ated people and the rest receive it from chemtrails and super spreader vac/cina/ted people. https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-12-20-emergency-update-from-adams-bidens-promised-winter-of-severe-illness-and-death-is-coming-true.html Strengthen your faith to survive, read God's Vaccine Book free). When we drove a couple minutes, we were in Tennessee. We were relieved (to be in friendly territory). (Before this, throughout this dream, we were tense). Then I woke up. I received by faith at random, Rom. 12:10, “preferring one another” In context, 9-13,  9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another; 11 in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; patience in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 communicating to the necessities of the saints;` given to hospitality. (Those who do the work to bring in the captives must have this lowly, humble, frame of mind.) As Eve said above a Pestilence or Plague is coming to the U.S.. Those who believe in the Passover will be safe. Here is a portion of Unharmed by the Pestilent Snow given to Eve Brast - 12/19/17  (Davids notes in red)  The dream started out with me floating in the Spirit above the whole scene of the dream. (Eve here is a type of the Bride of the Last Adam, Jesus, and she is in heavenly places by abiding in Christ.)  I saw myself standing in the midst of a large crowd of people. There was a smaller group of people immediately around me. We were a separate little circle of people. (The inner circle of true Christian believers around the Bride. These are bearing the fruit of Jesus but not yet arrived in the Bride.)  The configuration of the crowd almost looked like a target from the air.  I (Eve, as the Bride) at the center and the small group of people around me being the next ring and then the rest of the masses being the outer ring. (The outer ring of unbelievers including tares, goats, apostate Christianity and the world. The target of the DS is primarily Christians because these people are satanists who hate Christians above all people. They are factious and full of witchcraft and sacrifice children for power from satan just like the faction in the Church. What they dont know is that they are part of this outer circle and the plague will take many of them down too.  But these are vessels used of God, who wants to judge those in the outer circle who persecute and pollute the Bride with their leaven. These are a part of Babylon and do not have the Passover blood on their door posts to protect them from the plague. Part of these are Pharaohs army who will be destroyed at the spiritual Red Sea before the Christians go into their wilderness tribulation.) The small group immediately around me were looking to me for hope and reassurance. I was dressed in a dark blue top and blue jeans that were given to me by David. (The David Man-child company dressed the Bride in the heavenly works and walk of Jesus, meaning the doctrine that brings the works of Christ is being taught by the Man-child Davids to the Bride.) … They were desperately clinging to my clothing and looking toward me as their example. (They have seen that Jesus in the Bride is an example of how to live above the curse mentioned in Deuteronomy 28. This curse is everything that is detrimental to man. Galatians 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (there is safety under the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus which the apostates were not taught.)  Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Remember according to our type there was a Passover from a plague before the Israelites went into the wilderness, which Rev.12 and 17 proclaim to be the 7 years of tribulation.) How do we walk under the Passover blood? 1Jo.1: 5  And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (His Word is light) 6  If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7  but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light [of His Word], we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (And if you are cleansed from sin, you are not under the curse. This clothing of faith in the Word and works of God will save them and they seem to know it.) Exodus 15: 26  and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee.)  It was very dark all around us except for a light that shown down on me from above that got dimmer and dimmer the further away from me that the people were. (The further we are from the glory of God, which is the Christ likeness in the Bride, the more of the curse we are susceptible to. The more we add or subtract from the Word the more we are susceptible to the curse.) Rev.22: 18  I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: 19  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. (Notice: God will put the plagues on those who depart from the Word.) (What were they afraid of that made them want to be close to the Godliness of the Bride and cling to her clothing? The Plague.)  Snow was falling down upon all the people and as it landed on the faces of the dimmer people they began to fall to the ground dead and dying in agony. (The pestilent snow the Lord told us would come in parts 1 & 2; the plague was spread from above; by many chemtrail planes.) I asked for a word by faith at random concerning the pestilent snow that was falling on the outer masses of people and received: Hosea 7:10 (here in context) Hosea 7: 10  And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto Jehovah their God, nor sought him, for all this. 11  And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria. (Their faith is always in man who cannot save and in mans vac/cines, which are killing them.)  12  When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; … Then I was pulled into my body and the rest of the dream continued from my perspective inside myself. I was telling the group around me, "Don't worry! Look", and then I lifted up my face toward the heaven and let the snow fall on my face and opened my mouth to allow the snow to fill my mouth. It was a very strange snow to me. It wasn't cold nor did it melt upon coming in contact with the warmth of my mouth. (We witnessed this strange snow tested on us here except it had no plague in it. It did not melt with a match and instead of flakes it was short little needles which you could see when you looked very close.) I asked for a word by faith at random concerning myself in the dream of opening my mouth and the snow being like manna to us instead of the curse and judgement and my finger was on: Isa. 60:1 "for thy light has come" (in context) (Notice: A light shined on the Bride for she said in the dream "a light that shown down on me from above”.)  Isaiah 60: 1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. (Speaking to the Bride) 2  For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3  And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Notice: The righteous from among the nations clung to the Bride as in the revelation above.  They clung to her who was in the light of the glory of God for their safety.) 4  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. 5  Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee. (What is the abundance of the sea that will come to the Bride? It is the peoples of the world with their riches, spiritual and physical. Rev. 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.)… The snow had a fluffy texture to it and I chewed it and swallowed it. (This is how faith in the promises saves us. If you lose faith you lose the Passover. Beware lest your conscience is defiled by willful sin because you will not have faith. I John 3: 21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; 22  and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. Beware of willful disobedience or you will not be under the blood.  Hebrews 10: 26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.) … The snow reminded me of what I'd always imagined the manna from heaven was like to the Israelites. (Why is it death to some but life to others?  Because it represents the Word. Jesus said He was the manna and He is the Word made flesh. The Word is life to those who believe and the curse of death to those who dont. Deu.30:19  I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;)  Only this had no taste at all and was completely harmless to me. I felt no threat whatsoever. The people around me were amazed that I wasn't harmed by it the way everyone in the outer circle was. This gave them hope and courage that they too could survive the judgement. … Then I woke up. I asked for a word by faith at random for this dream and received Pro. 31 (in context 8-31) (These are all the qualities of those who are in the Bride, which Father is using me to represent in the dream.) (These are also her works or garments) I think it's interesting that verse 8 begins, "Open thy mouth" !  I'll begin the quote from there.  Pro. 31: 8  Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. (The Bride will speak for the true people of God who are in covenant with Him just like it was in Esther and Song of Solomon. 9  Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.  10 A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. 11 (The Bride is mature and beautiful to the Lord, her husband, and the much larger Church is not.  Song of Solomon 6: 8  There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. 9  My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. ) The heart of her husband (Jesus) trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain (She bears much fruit for him). 12  She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.  13  She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. 14  She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar (even from the old testament) . 15  She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. 16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it (Jesus said the field is the world, which she will inherit) ; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard (The Lords vineyard). 17  She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms (Her strength is the arm of the Lord). 18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night. 19  She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle (To clothe her children in the righteous works of Jesus). 20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy (To build them up through the Gospel). 21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. (She eats pestilent snow for breakfast) 22  She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple (Clothed in the righteous acts of the saints as in Rev 19) .  23  Her husband (Jesus is the husband of the Bride) is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24  She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25  Strength and dignity are her clothing (She is dressed up with the works of Jesus) ; And she laugheth at the time to come (She has no fear of the future curse). 26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue (She loves the brethren). 27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness (She pleases her husband and teaches her children and clothes them). 28  Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: 29  Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. (Just like the Bride in Esther and Song of Solomon excelled above the rest of Gods people.) 30  Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised (She is humble to the Word because she fears the Lord). 31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. (She bears the fruit of her husband, Jesus.) Received by faith at random today 9/29/19 Barry. Zec 5:1-4  Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying roll.  2  And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.  3  Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according to it.  4  I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.  — the curse on the faction in government, media, and Church.  Deb. (Isa.23:10) Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more. (11) He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.  -  - The fall of apostate Christianity by the D. 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Hmmmm... Validation and affirmation is there a difference? Is it wrong to have the desire of wanting to be affirmed? What can we do to satisfy the hunger of wanting to be noticed? Well, you can find out all of that and more in today's episode. Please join me and author Susan Hoekstra as we discuss informative highlights from her new book, A Firm Grasp. I promise you will enjoy this one!Let's Connect: https://www.changemylifepodcast.comHave a show suggestion/feedback? Let us know ➡️cmlpodcast1@gmail.com ABOUT THE GUESTSusan  Hoekstra started A FIRM GRASP Ministries to encourage others to gain a firm grasp on God's mercy, leading them to notice the way God notices.  Throughout this journey, she began songwriting, leading small groups, teaching bible studies, speaking at women's retreats, writing, and lay counseling. She has been featured in Just Between Us magazine and Christian Devotions. She is host of THE NOTICE - God stories live, and THE NOTICE podcast. Her book A FIRM GRASP - Feeling validated in a notice-me worldexplores our need for acknowledgment and approval and how the God of mercy satisfies! Sharing her diverse testimony and encouraging others towards a deeper understanding of God's mercy is her passion.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mjfave)

Recap – Coach Lombardi – [^] Coach Belichick Prodigal Son verbal summary So as far as we have gone in this parable you now have a good background as to the plan English and the isagogics. Let's look at the spiritual meaning of this part of the Prodigal son. [^] Luke 15:11 ¶ And He [Jesus] said, "A certain man [God the Father] had two sons [both believers]; I want to skip some detailed background as to the circumstances of where and why Jesus told this parable. My goal is to keep this relatively simple for now (even if it is not short). Just know there is allot of background as to why Jesus told this parable. But for now, it is not important. What I do want to mention, something that many in ‘Christianity' do not understand and what I want to make clear is that we are all undeserving of receiving anything from God. You are a well taught congregation, but it is worth repeating. God can't have anything to do with sin or sinner (you know this as what the bible calls unrighteousness). Therefore God can't have a relationship with sinful mankind. But He wants to (ponder than – He wants to …) and so His Love Motivated Him to find a solution (Think and Act) and that solution was Salvation followed by the sp life – the CWLiving. We are learning God's solutions that enable us to live in this world and have a relationship with God, and in using His solutions and following His instructions, we can navigate this corrupt world we live in and first demonstrate to ourselves how we can be happy, content and relaxed (by using God's solutions) and then by living the CWLiving we show others (a witness). God found a way to provide for us and all we have to do is Learn, Think, Motive and Act – or in short obey, but obey because we want to, not because we have to (that is part of motivation). Along with being unworthy, because we are sinners and will sin in the future, this means our human nature is evil. We are not basically good; we are evil and strive to be good. That is hard to swallow and most human thinking says we are basically good but do bad things. No. God says we do not have a righteousness equal to His and therefore are unrighteous. Again this is a hard to accept since we are brought up to think of ourselves as basically good (Satan's lie). But the fact is when we compare ourselves to God, we are totally unrighteous and evil. Now be careful, do not take this to the extreme. God created us and we are valuable to Him, we just have a nature that is unrighteous compared to His. And as I said He cannot have anything to do with unrighteousness or sin. So He had to do something about it. And did. There are many people who have good traits and follow morale principles (which are given by God for all people - DE) but the bible is clear we are basically bad people and we have to strive to be good. Which is just the opposite of what humanity (i.e. Satan) says and peddles, which is false and anti-God. If God says we are naturally evil and humanists say we are basically good, then they are saying God is wrong, God is a lair and are against God. Therefore they are on the wrong side and they are siding with Satan. That might be rough to hear but it is factual and God says this directly. [^] Psalm 14:1 (For the choir director. A Psalm of David.) The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. Psalm 14:2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. Psalm 14:3 They have all turned aside; together they have become [morally] corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. [^] Rom 3:10 As it is written [in Ecclesiastes 7:20], "There is none righteous, not even one; Rom 3:11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; [God sought us] Rom 3:12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one." So where am I going with this? Simply, we are all unworthy, and so for the prodigal son to say he is unworthy to be a son, he is wrong on two counts. First, he was always unworthy, not just this one little time when he demanded from his father the inheritance and then sold it and left for a distant country. He was always from his birth unworthy. Second, he says he was unworthy to be his son, again once a son always a son. So he was wrong with his logic twice. Thus he still has allot to learn and growing up to do. God's salvation gift is provided to all, there are not levels of deserving individuals or levels of undeserving individuals. As human beings we all sin, some more, some less but there are not degrees of sin making one better than another. (There are different ramifications for sins – e.g. murder vs speeding ticket). What the bible makes clear is that we all, everyone, is undeserving. So know the bible is absolutely clear that we all are undeserving, yet God Loves us and gives us grace (un-merited blessing). John 3:16. This parable portrays the attitude of God the Father toward the lost. Seeking the lost to come to Him in contrast to an excluding attitude. Since we are all undeserving and lost (without God), God takes the initiative and seeks you. He does this consistent with His Righteousness and Justice, motivated by His Love. I want to read another quote from Col Thieme - . The unfailing love of God for His own, that is believers, is the security that He provides for those who are His [believers], no matter where we are, no matter which direction we go, no matter how far we stray, no matter how lost we are. He never gives up, never. He is going to pursue you and try to persuade you to have a relationship with Him, a most beneficial relationship that has benefits in time, this life, and for all eternity. That's our God. [^] Luke 15:11 And He [Jesus] said, A certain man [God the Father] had two sons [both believers]; Luke 15:12 and the younger of them said to his father,' Father, [CMD] give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided his wealth between them. The dividing of the estate represents God providing everything you need in life to Learn, Think, Motive and Act with emphasis of what is called logical grace (food, shelter clothing, etc to live life in earth). Once you are a believer, God is obligated and has provided everything you need to live in this world. Both physical and spiritual. So your obligation is to grow up spiritually, to live the CWLiving. 2 Peter 3:18 says “Grow in the grace and knowledge of God”. To do that you must Learn, Think, Motive, Act. God provides both the materially and the spiritual information you need to do that. The younger brother represents most believers that receive the blessings of God the Father while turning our back on God. Also notice the Father made no attempt to stop him. God is a perfect gentleman and He does not violate your free will nor does He force you to remain in fellowship with Him. We are not robots, automatons, we are thinking, breathing, beings who God gave free will to follow God or not. So it is our decision. At this point when you look at this, it is a picture of the Plan of God and us using our freewill. God has a plan for every one of us, and we have free will, a choice to Learn, Think, Motive, Act about God's Plan or to reject or be ignorant of God's plan (apathy). The believer must accept the Plan of God which includes living the spiritual life [CWLiving]. The only alternative is for the believer to go his own way, to stay outside the Plan of God, to reject the Plan of God. To live our lives and its consequences without God. The My Way HighWay Just think about this for a second. Go back to the driving in weather example. Do you want to drive in bad weather on your own or do you want the protection and help of God? A God that is all powerful (Omnipotent)! Seems like an easy decision, huh! So if you want to get back into the protection and help of God ... there is always a way of recovery. To return or start living in the Plan of God. [^] How? Rebound when necessary and then diligently using the Faith Rest procedure. For unbelievers, Faith Alone in Christ Alone – Salvation, [^] Then start with my first lesson and Learn Rebound and the Faith Rest procedure; Think about when you need to Rebound and then call upon the promises of God so that you can be relaxed; next be Motivated to make good decisions based upon what you know from God via His word, the bible; and Act, have the courage to make those good decisions, including calling upon God via the Faith Rest Procedure to help you out in your times of need. And as you practice these ‘skills', learn about this God (Divine Essence) and then more about what the bible says, you are growing spiritually, you are executing the CWLiving and you are in the Plan of God for your life. But first it starts with Rebound when necessary, Diligently use the F/R Drill. The believer always has the ability to Learn, Think, Motive, Act in accordance with God and His plan. And that is another point that will be clearly made in this parable. That's the desire of God the Father, a recovery of right thinking and right living for all of His children (sons and daughters). He wants us to be in His Plan (PoG), sometimes we decide we are not going to be in His Plan. But it is our choice. And God lets us do that and then we suffer the consequences of our Thinking & Actions. [^] Luke 15:13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country [outside God's Plan], and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Two things to notice here: First, the younger son just left God the Father's protection [^] bird pic … the younger son just left God the Father's protection and did not call upon God for anything that he was planning to do. He did not ask for guidance, did not ask for help when things started to go bad, he just did his own thing. And that unfortunately is what we all do (some more, some less). We forget about God or we don't even have a relationship with God to know we can rely upon Him for help and advice. We just go on our merry way without a care with respect to God, and then panic when we get into trouble. [^] Blank Second: I mentioned this earlier, “loose living” – Notice God covers your sin(s) and therefore does not tell us what this loose living is. He respects what the younger son did and does not tell us what it was. That is part of God's graciousness. What the young son did is not the issue, the issue is being outside of God and His plan. The only thing that matters is to return. Period. That is how God thinks. The bible says sin is sin, there are not degrees of sin (though there might be degrees of consequences). The sin is not important; it is that we are outside the thinking of God, outside the Plan of God, and a lifestyle of living without God. Also God does not keep track of our sins, that is only something we as human beings do, which is antithetical to how God thinks and wants us to think. When we commit sin were are to Rebound, name and cite that sin to God and move on – 1 John 1:9. A corollary to this is, we are to keep our noses out of other people's business and if by chance we know of someone's sins, we are to never mention them and even forget them if we can, but never mention them or think about them. We follow God's example on this. [^] Luke 15:14 "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need. First, God loves you so much, He does all he can to wake you up to the fact that you are outside His plan for an extended time, this is part of what is called Divine Discipline. You are living outside the protection and provisions of God, so God provides disciple to wake you up to the fact that you need to recover and be restored to fellowship [via Rebound]. So what does God do in this case? He allows a severe famine to occur so that this young man would begin to be in need. This is the Sovereignty of God, the Omniscience of God or maybe the Omnipotence of God acting. God either knew that a severe famine would happen and he allowed this young man to go into that country. Or God made the severe famine occur via His Omnipotence. We are not told, but we can clearly see and use the Divine Essence of God and apply it here to understand God's ‘hand' in this situation. Again, so important from time to time to relate what is going on, or not, to God's Divine Essence. It helps us understand God and appreciate His power and wisdom. Because His Divine Essence is in action for your benefit. Principle: again without going into detail at this time, we are ‘whole in our life' [relaxed, happy, content, having purpose or ‘filled up' as it were] when we Learn, Think, Motive, Act using what God has provided and learn God's thinking. When we think like God thinks. There is a famine in every person that rejects the nourishment God provides by Learn, Think, Motive and Act using the word of God. Notice he began to be in need. He could not find a job. He never knew what hunger was all about because He was always provided for by living (fellowship) with his Father. And now he is outside the protection and help of His Father. Just like we are when we are out of fellowship and need to Rebound and even if we are in fellowship but do not use the Faith Rest procedure when needed (and it is always needed). [^] Luke 15:15 "And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. There is allot to this sentence that we will learn in the future. Since we are talking about the spiritual interpretation here and its application, just know that ‘attaching himself' means that this young man has rejected God the Father's thinking and way for his life and has adopted a different way of thinking and a different life. And as a result, he is now the feeder of the disgusting, muddy, stinky swine. See here God is a gentleman, you reject God, His plan and His instruction and procedures and you then reap what you sow. You make bad decisions and you reap the consequences of those bad decisions. (as you know all not lost, you can still recover, it is only a hard road because you think it is a hard road, but don't forget: God will help you, he is rooting for you and He will do all in His power to help you. And you know what? You will be better for going through the process! Guaranteed.) Something also to bring out wrt going our on way. Where did we get this idea of going our own way, it is not just volition, we learned it. We adopt some other philosophy than Gods. ... where did humanity or the ‘world' get its philosophy? In short it gets it by not following God's thinking and making up its own ‘rules' of life. This congregations knows where ‘world' gets its thinking apart from God's thinking? It got it from God's adversary, Satan. We know it as cosmic thinking. It is derived from the Greek word used in the New Testament for ‘world', ‘cosmos' - where we get the word cosmic and the bible says that Satan is the ruler of the cosmos – the ruler of the world. Of course this is a reference to the Angelic Conflict. So not thinking the way God wants us to think then is ‘cosmic' thinking or cosmic system thinking. Because Satan has developed a whole ‘system' to trap people into not thinking the way God thinks. So let me contrast God's thinking with the thinking that is in Satan's cosmic system. By use of an illustration from today… Communism and its little brother Socialism are anti-God and are the way that humanists think. The precepts of these human ideologies sound good but are built on faulty premises and are anti-God. God is for freedom, these groups are for right thinking and if you do not think right you are condemned (‘cancelled') or worse (you are imprisoned or killed); God is for marriage, one man and one woman; these groups are for anything goes – same sex marriage, polygamy. God is for family, what we have called in the past a nuclear family, a mother and a father raising children, these groups are for ‘It takes a Village to raise a Child”, completely opposed to God's way of thinking. God is for nationalism, they are for internationalism. Everywhere ‘their way' has been tried, you have the rich politicians and peasants who are struggling to survive. Look at Venezuela today and the French Revolution or the Bolshevik Revolution (Russia) or Communist China started under Mao. Socialism, the progressive movement, BLM, ANTIFA, Communism are all anti-God and part of Satan's cosmic system. And those people who think like that and those who sympathize with them are part of the cosmic system. > You can spot these groups and what they stand for by their use of the word ‘change'. ‘Change' in the name of some vague improvement, for the common good. The collective good vs individual rights. ‘Change' glorifies man, look what man can do. Versus looking to God and His system as outlined in the bible. God provides a system for all mankind to function, which is called Divine Establishment – 4 Divine Institutions I just mentioned The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the US Constitution) embodies God's Divine Establishment. In the USA it is what defines how citizens can live together in peace and harmony. Let me challenge you – Do you know what is in the Us Constitution as basic rights? I am sure you know free speech. What are the 4 things mentioned in The 1st Amendment of the US constitution? Besides free speech? - First Amendment (5 things) Congress shall make no law [1] respecting an establishment of religion, or [2] prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of [3] the press, or [5] the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and [5] to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Second Amendment … the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Fourth Amendment The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, Fifth Amendment No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury For believers and unbelievers alike, God's Divine Establishment is made up of Freedom, Marriage, Family and Nationalism plus the Rule of Law (embodied in the US Constitution). And in God's system is how mankind can live and prosper. It is also what glorifies God. Why? How? Again, the ‘recipe' is the same, using God's solutions vs man's made-up solutions or ‘change'. God honors His solutions and He eventually punishes man's solutions (as being anti-God and therefore anti-freedom). Mankind is the most prosperous under freedom vs tyranny. Tyranny is anytime you remove free choice - Freedom. What happens to these people who are anti-God and anti-USA and want to bring this country down and remake into a Socialist Communist country? These people who mock God and His system will suffer Divine Judgment. Psalm 33:10. [^] Psalm 33:10 [Promise] The Lord nullifies [note ] the counsel [thwarts the plans] of the nations [globalism, anti-Nationalism, UN]; He frustrates [to bring to nothing ] the plans [intensions] of the peoples. [who are attacking the client nation & DE people] [note ] It might happen with the next election, it might happen years down the road, it might happen after our deaths, but God will judge these people for the evil that they Think, their Motives and Acts. God will not be mocked Galatians 6:7 - [^] Galatians 6:7 [CMD] Do not be deceived [Stop doing what you are doing], God cannot be mocked; for whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap. This simply says that if you mock God, if you follow a course of anti-God, your actions have consequences and those consequences will be you reaping what you sow. If you sow God's thinking, then you reap the benefit of God's thinking. If you reject God and go down your own path or someone else's ideals that are anti-God then you will reap the consequences of anti-God thinking and be outside of Gods protection. So cosmic system thinking is anti-God and therefore evil. Those who think this way, those who act this way, those who are sympathetic to these groups and this thinking are anti-God, which is evil. So we need to Think God's way and not think or be anti-God. And again how? Become a believer in Jesus Christ [^] slide Rebound … then use Rebound when necessary and diligently use the Faith Rest Procedure, and Learn about God, how he thinks and adopt His thinking and His ways vs Satan's comic thinking. I can go on but I will stop here. > Those who reject God and pursue humanism, socialism will be judged harshly by God – remember – Don't mess with God and don't mess with God's people, whether it be the Jews at the Red Sea or God's RF, His Church Age bels & Client Nations or His principles of DE. God wins Satan and His cosmic system and peoples loses We win because we are Gods. [^] Chart 23 Luke 15:15 "And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. So ‘attaching himself' means that the young man is part of Satan's cosmic system and not in God's plan for his life [CWLiving]. Not thinking with God's thinking. He rejected God the Father's thinking and lifestyle. Not ‘attaching himself” to God's plan. The second thing is this ‘citizen of that country' sent him out to the fields to feed swine. He is now effectively a slave to this ‘citizen'. What friend or associate would send someone out to this work? This is an analogy to the cosmic system making slaves out of people who follow its tenants. Following the ‘rules' of the cosmic system will only lead to heartache and disappointment because only God's ways are the way to peace [RMA], comfort and genuine happiness in life. How could it not if God is the one protecting and providing for you? [^] Luke 15:16 And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. God provides for believers, he provides for your daily needs, logistical grace. So the food you eat, the clothes you wear, your transportation, everything you need to sustain yourself God provides. When you are in the cosmic system, you are rejecting God's plan and provisions for you. You are now relying upon Satan and his cosmic system for your needs. I know this is a hard concept to understand because what you see around you does not conform to this view. But it is nevertheless true. In short, the world or cosmic view is you work hard, then you can provide for yourself and your family. There is nothing wrong with working hard. But it is a matter of your focus. Are you working hard to get ahead, to make money? Or, are you working hard leading a balanced life, knowing God provides what you need (called logistical grace) and knowing that everything you have is from God and not from your own labors. I know this is subtle, but working hard and gaining ‘stuff' vs being diligent in spiritual life (CWLiving) is a big difference. I changed the word ‘hard' to ‘diligently'. A subtle but important change, in your thinking. You choose to live under God's thinking and work diligently at your jobs (notice plural) and let God be the one who provides for you. Jobs: You have time for God, you have time for family & your spouse, you have time for work, you have time for friends and hobbies, you have time to enjoy the fruits of knowing God and in your work (Sabbath Rest). One works for money and status in life and the other a balanced life that is relaxed and comforted in the knowledge of God and how God thinks and how God provides for you. The subtly here is work hard for stuff and all the anxieties that come along with that. Or your focus is on God, learning and applying what He says, diligently living the CWLiving and part of that is doing your job at your work, then reaping the benefit of God's provisions for you. A balanced life or a hectic life. Your choice. Satan's cosmic system way or God's way. Subtle but important. So attaching yourself is important [and has ramification for your entire lifetime]. This young man was attaching himself to the cosmic system rather than God. [^] Luke 15:17 "But when he came to his senses [notice thinking before changing your mind], he thought to himself, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! He never was hungry before this, he never did not have the right clothes, he never did not have a soft bed to sleep in, they were all provided for by his father. God the Father provides for everything in a believer's life. Some may have more, some may have less but always what you need. So the analogy here is ‘why would you leave the protection and provision of your Father'? And we know the answer, we are arrogant and we want to do things our way. When our way conflicts with God's way then the inevitable results occur. Likewise when we trust God, learn His thinking and His ways, use His solutions (procedures and techniques then we are living under the full protection and care (Love) of God. Which of the two ways is best? (rhetorical question) The point is rational thinking is what is needed to evaluation your circumstances. In this young man's case, he said to himself: “why did I leave?” He knows why but now with his ‘experiences' he sees the error of his ways. [^] Luke 15:18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven [rebound], and in your sight; So what is the spiritual solution when you are outside of Gods plan? Rebound. Name or cite your sins to God the Father and be restored to fellowship. This young man Thought, and was Motivated to change his Thinking and decided to Act. [note – I am using this Learn, Think, Motive, Act process allot because it is important that we all understand how we come to make a decision. It is not emotional. It is rationale. It's a process. This process is important and it is found throughout the bible. It needs to be the model for your process to come to a decision] [^] Luke 15:19 [he should have stopped but continued on emotionally] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men. "' Again worthy. None of us are worthy for God to take interest in us. We have nothing commendable to God. What we are is His creation and because we are His creation He takes an interest in us and wants us to succeed. He Loves us with His perfect Divine Essence of Love. But as we have covered before, He can't Love us and provide all that He wants for us unless His perfect Divine Righteousness (+R) and Justice are satisfied. Again how are they satisfied? By using His solutions and procedures. In these lessons it is Rebound when necessary and learn the promises of God and diligently using the Faith Rest Procedure. As we are seen via this parable, it is God's way or it is Satan's cosmic system way. Those are our only two choices in life. Again we need to note God's procedure. Name or cite our sins to God the Father in prayer. We are not to feel sorry for them. God does not ask that of us. Just name or cite them to Him and only Him. God does not ask us to plead with him, to tell Him (what He already knows) that we are unworthy. But since we believed in Faith Alone in Christ Alone we became part of God's family, so worthy or unworthy is not an issue. We are His. We were born unworthy but God, at our Salvation, made us part of His family and now therefore worthiness is not an issue. It is not part of the equation. Worthiness does not matter to God and should not matter to us. (adopt God's thinking) We are sons and daughters and nothing is going to change that after salvation. We are not worthy to be His family, yet He made us sons and daughters nonetheless. God's Sovereignty made us sons and daughters because His Love wanted to and when we believed in Christ with Faith Alone in Christ Alone then God's Justice was satisfied and His Righteousness told His Omnipotence to make us sons and daughters. Again everything God does is related back to His Divine Essence. Study God's Divine Essence, it is important. So after we Rebound, there is nothing left to do. No feeling sorry, No nothing, just go forward (make better decisions). So this young man should stop in his thinking after ‘rebound'. He does not have to grovel or insult his father by saying treat me, your son, like a servant. Just Rebound. Father I have sinned against you. [^] Luke 15:20 "And he got up and came to his father. Again, Thinking about his situation led him to be Motivated to change his situation (Action). [^] Luke 15:20 "And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father [did 5 things] [1] saw him, His father every day was looking for his son to return. The same with God the Father. Every day He is waiting for you to return to His plan using His solutions and procedures. He waits patiently. There is a verse in the bible that describes this: [^] Revelation 3:20 Behold [Take Notice! - believers], I [God] stand at the door [of your soul] and keep on knocking; if you hear My voice [how? By Learning or recalling what the bible says] and opens the door [you walk away from the cosmic system and Rebound, restart the CWLiving], I will come in to him, and will dine [fellowship] with him, and he with Me. God takes the initiate and is always waiting for a believer to be Motivated to Act based upon recalling or Learning what the bible says (Bible Doctrine) and when you use God's solution (Rebound) then you are back into fellowship with Him restarting the CWLiving. God is waiting... and therefore looking for His sons and daughters to return. That is how God thinks. Period. Just return via Rebound and move forward in the CWLiving (in your case diligently using the F/R procedure). [^] Luke 15:20 ... But while he was still a long way off, his father [did 5 things] [1] saw him, and [2] felt compassion for him, and [3] ran and [4] embraced him, and [5] kissed him. This is God's attitude for every believer who returns to the CWLiving. We have a Loving, compassionate, forgiving and wonderful God. Our job is to Learn, Think, Motive and Act using God's provisions, procedures and what He tells us in the bible (Bible Doctrine) to live our lives under His protection. I think it is important to notice that God did 5 things. He could have just done one, but His heartbeat is to have a relationship with you, an individual relationship, so God is ‘excited' and overjoyed at seeing a believer who is returning to Him. God is always [1] looking for a believer to return, [2] He is compassionate and knows that the believer had a rough time and wants to do everything to ease their pain; He [3] runs toward you when you have a change of thinking and [4] embraces you and hugs you and [5] gives you maximum comfort. This is the God of the universe, this is the God who Loves us and waits patiently to do all that He can for you. [^] Luke 15:21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' Luke 15:22 "But the Father [cut him off] As we have seen, Rebound is all that we have to do. And as we see here, the father cuts him off. He has Rebounded, so that is all that is required to be done. You changed your mind to God's thinking – repentance. A word that has been badly re-defined from what its original meaning. We change our minds about using Satan's comic system thinking for God's thinking (Bible Doctrine) and we start using God's provisions and do what the bible says. [^] Luke 15:22 "But the father [cut him off] said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand [signature ring] and sandals on his feet; Luke 15:23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry [celebrate]; [^] Luke 15:24 for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again [he simply returned home]; he was lost, and has been found.' And they began to be merry [celebrate]. You can see and feel the excitement that God has when just one son or daughter returns to God and His ways. This is who and what this God of ours is. He is overjoyed at someone's return. This is the Love and excitement and care that God has for us. And ‘what is it that we have to do'? [^] Rebound when necessary. Learn God's Promises and diligently use the Faith Rest Procedure. Learn about God and His character (Divine Essence), ‘see' (experience) how God thinks and use or adopt His thinking as our own. When we fail Rebound. And keep moving forward I am choosing to not cover the rest of the parable which involves the older brother. I wanted to hammer home God's love and How He feels and thinks about you. What he has provided for you. And what our obligation is to God. extemporaneous – Heb 10:25 and why COVID…. To close out this parable I want to mention one thing. What the Father wants here is the prodigal's restoration to the father in his house (fellowship with God and fellowship within the RF – Heb 10:25) What is exemplified here is the necessary attitude of love by believers for one another. This is a part of restoration, and this is a part of your attitude in grace orientation. It should be either personal love or impersonal love as the situation dictates. You have to be very careful that your strong sense of justice doesn't become self-righteousness. We do note hate the rioters, we despise the riots. Now the Rule of Law must be enforced – yet we despise the riots. We do not hate the Gay, Lesbian, Queer, Transvestite, Bi-sexual, binary or undecideds – we despise their actions. We do not despise the socialist, Marxist politicians who want to destroy our country and who spew anti-God rhetoric – we despise, reject and stand against what they say. We reject their actions but not the person. We want the Rule of Law enforced but we do not support or participate in vigilante justice. As Col Thieme stated … [^] Nothing wrong with a sense of justice, temper justice with grace orientation. Grace was given to you, me and those who are anti-God because we are all unworthy. As we know there is no other way you can receive salvation by other than grace. There is no other way that God can give you everything you need, to fulfill His plan other than grace. There is no other way that you can live in heaven for eternity without the grace of God. We don't deserve any of it, which one of us does? the prodigal? No. But he has it just like us. Grace is always demonstrated to the unworthy, that's what God's grace is, and what it does. [^] Blank So this concludes what I wanted to cover for the CWLiving. I do want to cover the passage in 2 Peter 1. I have memorized v1-11 Because it is the CWLiving in miniature So I want to read this because this congregation has the back ground to understand it and it might give you something to think about as you execute your spiritual life. 2 Peter 1 covers 7 qualities or attributes of the CWLiving. I do not have time to define each one but, again, this congregation has enough background to understand them. 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours [bel in JC], by the integrity [+R + J] of our God [deity] and Savior [humanity], Jesus Christ: 2 Peter 1:2 Grace and [mental] prosperity [RMA] be multiplied to you by means of the [epignosis] knowledge of God[/F] and of Jesus our Lord; 2 Peter 1:3 [how? ->] seeing that His divine power [omnipotence] has graciously been given to us everything pertaining to this [natural] life [logistical grace support] and spiritual life [CWLiving], through the epignosis knowledge [metabolized BD applied experientially] of Him [JC] who called [common grace] us by His own glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:4 For by these [doctrines] God/F has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them [metabolized and applied BD] you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust [OSN lifestyle]. 2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence [mental and physical strength], in your faith [by means of doctrine] apply] [1] virtue, and to your virtue, apply [2] [gnosis] knowledge, 2 Peter 1:6 and in your knowledge, apply [3] self-control [control your OSN & your decisions]; and in your self-control, apply [4] perseverance [patience with circumstances], and in your perseverance, [5] live the spiritual life [CWLiving]; 2 Peter 1:7 and in living the spiritual life, [6] apply love to members of the RFG, and in your love for members of the RFG, [7] apply virtue love [to all mankind]. 2 Peter 1:8 For if these seven qualities are yours [i.e. keep on being present] and keep on increasing [we never arrive], they render you neither useless nor unfruitful [no hopeless situations] in the epignosis knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:9 For the Believer who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted [occupied with the cosmic system], having forgotten his purification from his former sins [salvation by grace through faith]. 2 Peter 1:10 [CMD] Therefore, members of RFG, be all the more motivated [make every effort] to make certain [a spiritual reality] about His calling [common grace] and electing [Doc of Election] you; for as long as you practice these things [the virtues of living the spiritual life], you will no not never stumble [in the spiritual life]; 2 Peter 1:11 for in this way [making your calling and election sure, practicing the CWL] the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you [conveyance of Escrow blessings]. --- Fit in Matthew 8:26, Luke 8:24, Mark 4:39 And He said to them, "Why are you timid [cowardly], you men of little faith[s] [note1]?" Then He arose, and rebuked [issues a command to] the winds and to the surging waves and the said to the sea "Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. This is the way to alleviate fear and anxiety every time. F/R. [^] Note1 - little faith[s] (ol-ee'-gos – pistis) oligópistos (from 3641 /olígos, "little in number, low in quantity" and 4102 /pístis, "faith") – properly, few occurrences (applications) of faith. 3640 (oligópistos) occurs five times in the NT, each time with Jesus rebuking the problem of failing to hear His voice (cf. Jn 10:3,4,27). [^] F/R…. =========== ========== ========= What's God's will? [^] 1 Tim 2:4 who [JC] desires [wills] [1] all men to be saved [unbeliever] and [2] to come to the [epignosis] knowledge [through metabolized BD] of the truth [believer]. [^] God's will = 1) salvation; 2) 2 Peter 3:18 IOWs How to grow in the grace and knowledge of TLJC – Master the CWLiving fundamentals ● Rebound when necessary ● Learning God's promises ● Diligently using the F/R procedure ● Understanding God's character (JR SOOO LIVE) especially God's Love and His Righteousness and Justice. ○ And how God's Love is His motivation to do things for you and to help you and ○ how His Righteousness has to be satisfied so His Justice can execute what His Love wants to do. ● Understanding How God thinks Recall Gods Love wants to bless you, encourage you, and prosper (RMA) you. That is His loves motivation. And when His Righteousness is satisfied, His Justice executes what His Love wants to do for you – aka blessing When you do these things then God's +R accepts this and His Justice blesses you. When you don't or are apathetic or disobedient – then the +R of God rejects your behaviour and condemns you – disciplines you (including reaping what you sow). Trusting God [in God we Trust] [^] Proverbs 3:5 [1] [CMD] Trust in the Lord with all your heart [rt lobe – where you think. PSD #3 F/R Drill], And [2] [CMD] do not lean on your own [HVP] understanding [man's opinion vs God's]. Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways [3] [CMD] acknowledge Him, [Promise] And He will make your paths straight. [1, 2, 3 - easy] Straight forward. Trust is a process. IF you use it, the more you use it, the more and more God comes through for you – guiding your life via open and closed doors and protecting you (recall Mother bird protecting her chicks) [^] Confused which way to go? After using the F/R Drill… Then make the best decision you can and if God does not want you to go in that direction, he will close the door. If you are receptive to closed doors, then you see that for what it is and you go in another direction. In all cases you make the decisions in life as to what you think is best. Remember, you will not be in fear or worry because you are using the F/R procedure and as long as you do and are remaining calm about it then any decision will either be guided by God and an open door or the result of the decision will be a closed door. Then you know to go in a different direction. The key is [pause]: are you diligent in using the F/R procedure and are you trusting God such that you are relaxed? If so, then your trust in God is not in vain and He will come through for you (but also remember it will be in His timing). [^] Learn – God's Divine Essence (JR SOOO LIVE) - God's Promises Think – How God thinks … L => R & J Motive - Do follow God's CMDs Act - to use Rebound … & Diligently use F/R Drill Learn – Think – Motive – Act (PMA of BD, Op Z)

Because heaven is crashing into earth, we are invited to wake up to God's presence in our everyday, ordinary lives. Seeing what God is doing is our first step to doing it, too. God always meets us in the PRESENT moment.

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 145 Lessons from their lives Talk 11 - Elijah   Welcome to talk 11 in our series, Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is Elijah and we will be looking at a variety of verses from 1 Kings 17-19. We'll be considering:   The times he lived in The kind of person he was The results of his obedience to God   A.   The times he lived in   The times E lived in, in many ways were similar to today:   The nation and its leadership were far from God   1 Kings 16:29-33. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.   Any who did serve the Lord felt very much alone (19:14)   I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.   But there were more worshippers of God than they realised (19:18)   Yet I have seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him. B.   The kind of person he was   Elijah was just like us (James 5:17)   'Elijah was a human being, even as we are'.   Why does James say this?   1 Kings 19:1-4 NIV Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets  (of Baal) with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”   He was a man of prayer (James 5:17-18)   Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.   Notice first the simplicity of his prayer for fire from Heaven:   1 Kings 18:36-37   At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.   Notice too his motive for praying this: so these people will know that you, Lord, are God   Notice finally his persistence in praying for rain   1 Kings 18:42-46 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' ” Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.   He was a man of the Word   Notice what it says in Deuteronomy 11:16-17   16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.   Had Elijah read this? Did he receive revelation from the Scriptures (as he had them) or direct from the Spirit but in harmony with the Bible?   Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)   James tells us that Elijah prayed that it would not rain. 1 Kings does not mention this. Did he base his prayer on Deuteronomy 11? Did he pray before or after his visit to Ahab?   Suggested order of events:     He is aware of Deuteronomy 11:16-17 He prays accordingly He receives revelation as to what God will do He acts upon it and goes to Ahab   This leads us naturally to our next point:   He was led by the Spirit   1 Kings 17:2-3 2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine,    17:8-9 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath   18:1-15              1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals." 6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another. 7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?" 8 "Yes," he replied. "Go tell your master, 'Elijah is here.'" 9 "What have I done wrong," asked Obadiah, "that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' 12 I don't know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the LORD since my youth. 13 Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' He will kill me!" 15 Elijah said, "As the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today."   N.B.          Obadiah (12-14) sees the Spirit as totally random and unexpected          Elijah (15) ‘I will present myself'                                                    - the Spirit works to principles                                                     - the Spirit does not force himself on us   He was obedient   1 Kings 17:5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.   Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went…   1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." 2 So Elijah went …   Note: In each of these passages, wherever God gives Elijah a command, it's accompanied by a promise. (Cf. Matthew 28:19-21).   C. The results of his obedience   God provided for him   1 Kings 17:2-9   2.Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”                             ravens 17:6                God in the natural                           widow 17:7                God in the supernatural Notice: God was in complete control - I have directed the ravens (4).     I have directed a widow (9) God met his needs, not necessarily his desires (bread and flesh, oil and flour) - monotonous diet!   He turned the situation around   18:30-39            We know the story well   Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “ Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord —he is God! The Lord —he is God!”   Conclusion   Back to James 5:17 - just like us - we can do it! But note the plural. God is not looking for a man, but for men and women.        We can turn situations around. We must be people:   of prayer of the word led by the Spirit obedient to God   God will provide for us God will use us.

Have you ever been guilty of accusing someone before you knew all the facts? If so, be aware that you're tugging on the same end of the rope as Satan, the official ‘accuser' of God's children. The Bible says: ‘The accuser of our brothers…who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down' (v. 10 NIV). Emotional and spiritual maturity demand that you first seek to understand, rather than making a hasty accusation. Look at the example God gave us in the garden of Eden. He could easily have said, ‘Adam and Eve, you unappreciative sinners, I should never have trusted you in my garden!' God's non-accusatory style in confronting Adam and Eve about their sin supplies a powerful model for those of us who tend to speak before we're in possession of all the relevant information. The Bible says: ‘The LORD God called to Adam…“Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”' (Genesis 3:9-11 NKJV). Notice God already knew the answers to all three questions He asked. Nevertheless, He gave Adam an opportunity to explain his side of the story. And in Adam's case, he couldn't. However, the divine principle still stands: asking a clarifying question and listening carefully to the response are key steps in overcoming your tendency to criticise or accuse. Have you ever been unjustly accused? If you have, don't do it to others. Ask, and listen!

The answer to how the bodily resurrection of the dead is possible is The Resurrection Giver.-1. Notice God's patterns of botanical life out of death, and types of terrestrial bodies and celestial glories. -v.35-41--2. Understand the radical differences between the risen body and its earthly counterpart. -v.42-44a--3. Consider how Christ will bridge the earthly and the heavenly. -v.44b-49--Applying- Why do people hesitate at the idea of the dead being raised--1. Who will transform our bodies to be like Jesus' body- Phil 3-20-21-2. What did Jesus say about Himself- What verb tense- John 11-25-3. How does the Bible describe our inheritance- 1 Peter 1-4

God and Humankind Together (Gen. 1:28, 29)Notice God’s first spoken words to humankind, at least as they appearin Scripture. He points them to their ability to procreate, to reproducemore of their own kind. He also points them to the earth itself, to thecreation, and He tells them to replenish it, to subdue it, and to havemastery over it. He also points them to the plants they can eat. In short,according to the Bible, God’s first words to man and woman deal spe-cifically with their interaction and relationship with the physical world.What do Genesis 1:28, 29 tell us about how God views the materialworld? Do they imply that there is something bad in materialthings and our enjoyment of them? What lessons can we learn fromthese early scenes in human history about how we should relate tothe creation itself?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________Also, with these words, God takes the first steps toward a relationshipwith humankind. He speaks to them, gives them commands, tells them whatto do. There’s a responsibility implicit in these words too. God has askedthem to be masters over this wonderful creation that He Himself has made.Genesis 1:28 says that God blessed Adam and Eve. What does thatmean? What kind of relationship does it imply between them andtheir Creator?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________God addressed Adam and Eve as intelligent beings who couldrespond to His kindness and enter into communion and fellowshipwith Him. Also, as creature-children, Adam and Eve were dependentupon the blessing and care of their Creator-Father. He provided all theyneeded. They did nothing to deserve what He gave them. They werepurely recipients of something they did not earn.When we read about the creation of man and woman, we cansee elements, before sin, of the kind of relationship God wants usto have with Him now, after sin. Review the day’s study and seewhat parallels you can find that help us understand how we canrelate to Him, even in our fallen condition.

51 In this episode, I bring the lessons to a close and tell you about how God used His word to show me how to close the teaching.Get access to the entire 12-part Christian Podcast Bible Study LessonThere are only two scripture references in this episode. The first is found in Exodus 17:5,6 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of israel. Also Take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river and go.Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.The next is similar but found in Numbers 20:8-12Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals. So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered together before the rock; and he said to them, "Here now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hollow me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I've given them."Notice God told Moses to speak to the rock, not strike it. I believe God was trying to teach His people the lesson on the power of your words but Moses disobeyed God's command.It cost Moses and Arron their entry into the Promised Land and their lives.

Scripture of the Day:    Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Don't Be Anxious About the Outcome We've been talking these past few days about rolling your cares over on the Lord. He is more than able to handle your situation. Amen. No matter how bad it may seem to you – He is able to make it go away and deliver you from all your troubles. Glory to God! When we roll our cares over on Him, we are demonstrating that we have Faith in His Word. Since Jesus IS the Word, we are demonstrating that we have Faith in Him. Amen! A verse in Psalm 37 helps us to see what Peter was talking about in our verse of the day just a little more clearly. It says: “Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”  AMEN! The words “roll” or “cast” or “commit” are all the same root words which means to TRUST him. Amen. Isn't that what the Bible is saying in these verses? To just TRUST HIM? Notice God is not going to TAKE your cares away. It does not say that at all. YOU are going to have do something with them. You can either cling to them and hold onto them – and be completely responsible for them…or you can GIVE THEM TO HIM. Some misguided people will ask me to pray that “God will help me get through this.” That is the wrong attitude to have. You should be praying that God will deliver you from this. Not get you through it. You should be praying that you are giving the care of this situation to God and then you thank Him (in advance) for the deliverance.  If you insist on worrying about your situation, whatever it is, then you are telling God that He is not in charge – YOU ARE. And God will not TAKE anything from you. Not even your cares.  Think of it like this… When you got born again, what did you say? In some form or fashion, if you truly asked Jesus to be your Savior, you probably said something to the effect, “Lord I give you my life.” Am I right? What good will your sin filled life do for Jesus. NOTHING. But, when you GAVE HIM your life – He became responsible for it. And the only way He could save you from your sinful self was to destroy that sinful person and then give you a NEW LIFE – a rebirth – a BORN AGAIN spirit that is the NEW YOU. But it did not happen until what? Until YOU gave HIM permission to do it! Glory to God! Is all of this starting to make sense now! I pray it is. I pray a light of revelation just switched on inside your spirit man. Glory to God. I want to pray for you right now…Let's pray that this new light of revelation will allow you to begin to walk with the Lord with no cares for this world, no cares about your life, no cares about whatever is plaguing you right now. Let's pray for absolute deliverance from all of your cares and all of your troubles. Why? Because He says you can do that! Amen! Let's Pray! Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com/ (https://podcastersforchrist.com). And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today. You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2 (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2)

“Winning In Warfare” October 11, 2020 Session 4 2 Timothy 2:3, 4; Ephesians 6:10-18 Review The Shoes of Peace [internal order; state of inner rest] (Ephesians 6:15) Peace is the inner assurance, confirmation of being in line with the Spirit’s voice and direction. (See Colossians 3:15-17) What does “the disturbing of the peace” in our spirit mean? The flesh and the enemy are “peace disturbers”. Ask the Spirit of peace for discernment! Agree with Him and respond. Our spirits can be “troubled” leading to great things! 2 Corinthians 7:5 – (thlibo) afflict, compress: Notice: God sent an agent of comfort! John 11:33 (Tarrasso) stirred, agitated led to powerful action! John 12:27; John 13:21 – facing heartache Mark 14:33-36 – (ademoneo) heavy, distressed. Response was decision that changed history and still working!

Notice: God doesn’t tell Ezekiel to go out and give the bones a ten-step process on how to get their lives sorted out. God doesn’t tell the people to pray three times a day in order to earn their salvation. God doesn’t wait for the people to memorize their favorite book of the Bible before the bones starting coming back together. God raises the bones to life because that’s what God does! I hope you hear that as a hopeful word. Because even at our best, we’re not very good.

12.29.19 Practicing the Presence. Luke 2:33-40 The Redemption practice of the Firstborn was meant to remind us of the redemption that God had provided to Israel through His Presence in their lives. We all have certain rituals or celebrations, ex. birthdays. Anna the Prophet stayed in prayer, she recognized Jesus as the Redemption of Israel. Practice the Presence of God in our lives, choosing a discipline of abstinence. Maybe fasting or giving up cell phone time. Choose to be encouraging instead of sarcastic. Notice God in your life more.

Jesus is not your marketing tool- I come as an auditor of the Kingdom of God inspecting Authorized by heaven - I’m serving Notice God is Shutting your Buisness down and Highlighting &promoting those that are about his Buisness. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pure-truth-session-with-lady-ty/support

In flesh God's worked for years, spoken at length. He begins with the “service-doer trial,” then speaks prophesies and starts to judge, uses trial of death for refining. He then leads people to the right track of belief in God, speaking words, providing people with all the truth, fighting man's notions of all kinds. Later He gives man a little hope, so they can see what is ahead, which is that God and man will enter a good destination hand in hand. Though men are creations of God, and Satan has corrupted them all, though they are worthless wretches and their natures are like this, God won't treat them by their essence or the punishment they deserve. His words are stern, yet to people, He's merciful and tolerant. 2 Though God's work is carried out as planned, it's in alignment with man's needs. It is not casually performed. All work is done by God's wisdom. Because of love, because of His love, with His wisdom and in earnest, He treats all these corrupted people, doesn't toy with them at all. Notice God's tone, notice His wording. Sometimes it brings discomforts or trials. His words at times put people at ease. He's mindful and thoughtful of them. Though men are creations of God, and Satan has corrupted them all, though they are worthless wretches and their natures are like this, God won't treat them by their essence or the punishment they deserve. His words are stern, yet to people, He's merciful and tolerant. 3 With care, slowly ponder this! If God didn't pity all, treat them with tolerance, grace, would He speak countless words to save? from The Word Appears in the Flesh

Welcome to episode two of our series discussing the biblical theme of the Son of Man. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss humanity's role in relation to other parts of creation, specifically animals. In part one (0:00-30:15), the guys briefly recap the first episode and quickly go over Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7, where he has a vision of the Son of Man appearing. Tim then dives into the language and ideas presented in Genesis 1 and specifically focuses on the order of creation and how the days are paired. Genesis 1:1-2: In the beginning God created the skies and the land and the land was wild and waste, and darkness was over the face of the watery deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Wild (tohu) = unordered Waste (vohu) = uninhabited Day 1 - Light: Separated from dark, day and night. Day 4 - Lights appointed to rule the day and night. Day 2 - Waters above separated from waters below. Day 5 - Creatures in waters below, creatures in waters above. “And God created the great sea monsters..." (1:21) “And God blessed them, saying be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters…” (1:22) Day 3 - Water separated from dry land. “Let the land bring forth (ותוצא) plants and vegetation and seed-producing plants and trees producing fruit.” (1:12) Day 6 - Creatures on the land. “Let the land bring forth (ותוצא) living beasts by their kinds.” (1:25) “Let us create the human (ha-adam) in our image and as our likeness… And God blessed them, and said, (1) be fruitful and multiply and fill the land and subdue it, and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the beasts on the land.” (1:26-28) Gen 2:1-3: God rests on the seventh day, which does not end. Tim then focuses on humanity's relationship with animals. Tim notices that humans are the “second comers” to creation, who are given the responsibility to rule over the animals who came first. This is a pattern that shows itself many times in Genesis. (Think about Joseph’s sons later in the story.) Tim then asks what it means for humans to be called to rule over the animals. Tim cites Richard Bauckham’s book Living with Other Creatures, “It is not often well enough noticed that the command God gives to humanity refers to two rather different matters. It refers first to the relationship of humans to the earth, secondly to their relationship to other living creatures...and they are not the same thing. Humans are not alone in being told to be fruitful and to multiply and to fill, the first and birds were given the same blessing on day 5. Only humans are told to fill and to subdue the land. In the narrative this refers clearly to agriculture, taking possession of the soil and working it in order to make it yield more food for humans than it would otherwise do. But what about all the other land animals? How does humanity’s role of subduing land relate to God’s blessing of the animals to fill the land? Notice God’s next words to the humans: See, I have given you (humans) every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. (Gen 1: 29– 30) Why does God tell humans that he has given every plant for food for the other living creatures? Surely, the reason is that it is the humans who need to know that the produce of the earth is not intended to feed them alone, but also all the living species of the earth. The clear implication is that the earth can provide enough food for all creatures. Humans are not to fill the earth and subdue it in a way that leaves no room and no sustenance for the other creatures who share the earth with them. God has given them too the right to live from the soil. So the human right to make use of the earth, to live from it, is far from unlimited. It must respect the existence of other creatures. The biblical portrait of human dominion over the animals must be filled out by the Bible’s vision of “royal rule.” Since Genesis depicts the image of God as a kind of royal function, the rule of a king over others, it is worth recalling the only passage in the law of Moses that refers to the role of the king in Israel (Deut. 17: 14– 20). There it is emphasized that the king is one among his brothers and sisters, his fellow-Israelites, and should not forget it. He should not accumulate wealth or arms or indulge in any of the ways kings usually exalt themselves above their subjects. Only if they remember their fundamental solidarity with their people will kings be able to rule truly for the benefit of their people. Similarly, only when humans remember their fundamental solidarity with their fellow-creatures will they be able to exercise their distinctive authority within creation for the benefit of other creatures.” (pp. 226-228) In part two (30:15-41:30), Jon asks about carnivorous animals like lions. Tim says that life survives at the expense of other lives right now, but apparently, in the new creation, that will fundamentally change. Tim says that humans bear responsibility for animal’s destiny; that’s why we are called to rule them. This is humanity acting in their identity of the divine image. Tim shares this quote: “The close relation of the term for God’s image with that for the commission to exercise dominion emerges quite clearly when we have understood selem as a plastic image. Just as powerful earthly kings, to indicate their claim to dominion, erect an image of themselves in the provinces of their empire where they do not personally appear, so man is placed upon earth in God’s image as God’s sovereign emblem. He is really only God’s representative, summoned to maintain and enforce God’s claim to dominion over the earth.” Gerhard von Rad, Genesis: A Commentary, ed. Peter Ackroyd et al., trans. John H. Marks, Revised Edition., The Old Testament Library (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1972), 59–60. Tim says that a human making an idol is an oxymoron. Humans are the image of God, so why would they make one? Tim then posits that in Genesis 3, an animal (the snake) is the one who deceives Adam and Eve. Humans end up getting ruled by the animals instead of ruling them. In part three (41:30-53:00), the guys discuss Psalm 8: O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have shown Your splendor above the heavens! ….When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is human that You take thought of him, And the son of man (human) that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than elohim (God or angelic beings), And You crown him with glory and majesty! [kavod va-hadar ‘divine attributes’] You make him to rule [mashal] over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! Notice how God’s exaltation and glorification of humans is set within an inclusion frame about God’s own majesty and reputation. An exalted humanity doesn’t compete with God, rather it increases God’s own honor, because humans are an expression of the divine beauty and creativity. In part four (53:00-end), Tim shares this quote: “One point of saying that God is the absolute sovereign (as the biblical texts say time and again) is to say that he is free: free to exalt and share his own power and divine power with those whom he wills, through a transformation of their nature and identity; free to create entities that in various ways share in his identity as ruler and judge, and who manifest his presence within the world… The God of the biblical story is able to enter into and take on the nature and identity of the very reality he has created, taking it up into his very self. God’s identity is, apparently, “sharable.” … God’s identity is not a zero-sum game. To say that God shares his identity with humanity does not mean he suffers a loss of being; on the contrary, it is actually a way of saying that his identity is magnified and his glory extended.” [Tim’s note: “and, we may add, this is the way the divine love is extended as well.”] - Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Jesus Monotheism, 310-312. Tim says that for God, relationship with creation means entering into a shared relationship with it. Show Produced By: Dan Gummel, Jon Collins Show Music: Defender Instrumental, Tents The Cave Resides Deep in the Forest, Artificial Music Talking with You, Copyright free Very Chill Saxaphone, Copyright free Show Resources: Gerhard von Rad, Genesis: A Commentary Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Jesus Monotheism Richard Bauckham, Living with Other Creatures. Our video on the Son of Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6cWEcqxhlI&t=113s

A Message About Fatherhood & Life :: How To Recover From Injury With Christopher J Harris All of the month of June, the Wise Idea Podcast and our host Christopher J Harris will focus on Men, Fathers, Dads, and Fatherhood. To be clear, we are celebrating the men who ARE taking care of business.  Regardless of the cultural narrative that's been created, there are millions of dads across the world who are handling their business. Regardless of race or class many Dads step up every day to serve their families and empower their children. This month, we'll contribute to that conversation.     A Few Key Ideas: God's plan for us is to live HEALTHY, HEALED and WHOLE lives. The context for our story in Recovery From Injury involves King David and his interactions with his sons in 2 Samuel 15: 4-13. 3 Things Missing From This Story – that are almost always missing from homes and families where there is trouble: David doesn't appear to have admitted his own sins with his sons. You know, the problem for too many parents is the fact that when we sin we feel it is somehow beneath us to acknowledge that we had done anything wrong. DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF AN APOLOGY! You cannot – I repeat – YOU CANNOT disobey God and expect your behavior NOT to have an effect on the people you care for… upon those who look up to you. David looked the other way when his children sinned. David NEVER punished Amnon OR Absalom for what they did. BUT DAVID DID NOTHING - He shifted his parental responsibility and He didn't pass his faith along to his children. David failed to ask God for Guidance and Help. Nowhere in this story do we read of David praying to God for guidance. We don't see where David asked God to help him forgive his son. Why wouldn't he do that? Why wouldn't David cry out to God for guidance and help in the midst of this terrible mess? I suspect it's because David suffered from the same spiritual weakness that effects many Godly men and women - I call it Compartmentalization: the tendency to put our lives in different compartments. Often, It's not that we deliberately leave God out of our family life. It's just that we don't deliberately include Him. Notice God does not : withdraw his love never disciplines in anger(1 Cor 13:5) never forces our will Notice God does: Set Boundries Warns us (Gal 6:7) Chasens us for our benefit Is willing to forgive us when we return Allow God To Customize A Plan of Recovery For You.   Children Learn What They Live
 Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte Tools (referenced during or as a result of this Episode): The Fatherhood Principle by Dr Myles Munroe Fatherhood Is Leadership by Devon Bandison You Have What It Takes: What Every Father Needs To Know by John Eldredge   For Coaching, Questions, or Additional Information: You can contact us at info@thewiseideapodcast.com Subscribe via: iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, RSS Feed Enjoy what you're hearing & seeing? Do you mind Rating & Reviewing This Podcast? Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you. If you have the desire to donate financially to The Wise Idea Podcast, you can do so here. A donation of any amount will be helpful in allowing us to creating the movement to INSPIRE WISDOM. About Our Host: Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, Fla., is currently Executive Pastor of Crossover Church of Tampa, Fla. He is also the Director of Administration & Vision Implementation overseeing the day to day operations of the Atlanta Headquarters office for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. He's served at ministries in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Chicago,IL. He's an author and blogger and most recently wrote a book titled, Temporary Assignments.

Psalms 110 Watch Video Listen to MP3 Download Handout Download Manuscript → Click to view the Sermon Outline Davidic Pattern #1: The path toward kingship was marked by suffering. The humble servant had to suffer first before he was exalted as king. Davidic Pattern #2: When exalted as king, God brought remaining factions and enemies into subjection to God’s chosen king (cf 2 Samuel 5:9-12). Jesus Christ, Pattern #3: God’s chosen King suffered, was delivered from the grave and then was exalted “carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:44-50). Psalm 110 - The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook by the wayside; therefore He will lift up His head. Five realities about Jesus Christ that we must all come face to face with sooner or later 1. God Has Made Christ Alone King of Creation—“Sit at My Right Hand” (v. 1) a. “At God’s right hand”—Matthew 22:44, Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 12:2-3, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 3:21 b. “The Right Hand of God” is the place of eternal rulership The ascension of Christ is as significant to the Lordship of Christ as His death and resurrection is to His role as Savior. He is both Lord/King and Savior! c. But how could any man share God’s ruling throne? Jesus Christ was not simply “any man”—“The Lord said to my Lord” (cf. Matthew 22:41-45) 2. God Has Promised Christ Alone a Kingdom (v. 2) 3. God Has Promised Christ Alone a People/Army for His Kingdom (v. 3) a. Willing volunteers b. Dressed in righteousness (holy majesty/womb of dawn, cf. Revelation 19:11-16) 4. God Has Made Christ Alone the Only Way to Be Part of His Kingdom—Christ Is Not Only a King but a Priest! (v. 4, cf. Genesis 14, Hebrews 5-9) 5. God Will Destroy Opposition to Christ Alone (vv. 5-6)  Outlined Manuscript Have you ever experienced something that you never thought you would experience in your life?  Maybe it was a sudden sorrowful thing that happened to you or someone near to you.  Maybe it was something that you waited for your whole life to happen and you just were not sure if it would ever happen (I imagine there are some parents of soon to be graduates that may be feeling that way about now).  Maybe it was something that you spent plenty of time dreaming about in your life. Wednesday night November 2, I finished up a night of youth group in the LOFT and immediately ran out to my Jeep.  I turned on the ignition and before the engine had even finished cranking over I had the radio tuned into the Cubs versus the Indians playing in Game 7 of the World Series. As I turned on to State Road 26 to begin my journey home I listened as Dexter Fowler led off the game with a home run to deep right center field. Maybe tonight would be the night that I had played out countless times in my backyard as kid in Northern Illinois.  Maybe tonight the Cubs would be the world champions. It had been 108 years since the last time the Cubs had won the World Series.  For years they had been mocked as the “loveable losers”, but tonight could be a different night. Well that game did not go exactly the way that was the least amount of stress, but early on that Thursday morning the Cubs were finally the World Series Champ.  As my 91 year old grandma that was sitting next to me said as the final out was recorded, “Well they finally did it.” Everything changed in the mind of the lifetime Cub fan.  The blues and reds of the world were just brighter and more beautiful.  They no longer were fans of the “Loveable Losers”, but now were fans of the Champs. Even in something as silly as winning a World Series there was a new realization that would make life never the same again. These realization moments can come from any changes that revolutionize our lives.  We go about our lives and for the most part we get into routines But then something in our environment changes—something either that we want to change or something that we don’t want to change. And when it changes we may take a while to believe what has happened. Here is a question for you… What is the greatest reality shock of your life? Here is what I believe it is…. We by our nature grow up in a state of selfishness that causes us to seek our own good.  We exalt ourselves to the roll of king over our own life. Think about it. From birth whenever I was hungry, I would just cry, and suddenly a bottle would appear. Whenever, I had a dirty diaper I would just cry a little bit more and suddenly my diaper would be changed. As a toddler, I want a toy, I grab it from my friend that was playing with it. As a teen, I want my own pleasure, so I experiment with sex and drugs As  a highschooler, I learn how to get attention by using my body for athletics or beauty. As a college student, I want to live the party life and sow my wild oats…. As an adult, I learn to make money to spend on toys for me. The routine of living for self is our reality What happens when you come face to face with the reality of you are not KING!! What happens when you begin to see for the first time, this world doesn’t revolve around you! My friends that is a reality for all of us, that must be faced. With those thoughts in mind please turn in your Bibles to Psalms 110. That is on page 443 in the front section of the bible in the chair in front of you. I have also printed the text of Psalm 110 in your bulletin notes if you would rather look there. This year’s annual theme at Faith is In Christ Alone And after Easter we have turned our attention to a five part series on Seeing Christ in the Psalms Much of Jesus’ life and work is said in the New Testament to be a fulfillment of the Psalms. Let me say an explanatory word about my understanding of the messianic Psalms. Many of the Psalms/Songs in the OT were written by a man called David, King of Israel. David was God’s chosen king to rule over God’s people. David, was an example or type of a man who, although a sinner and having some great sins, strived to be faithful to God. He was faithful to God in His youth. He was marked by meekness and humility and trust in the Lord. He is known for His slaying of the giant menace of Israel, Goliath, by relying on Lord—not any kind of military strength. Because of his humility, God chose him as an earthly king over his people However, the path to kingship was one marked by suffering. His enemies opposed him and often sought his life… Pastor Green at FE and Pastor Wright at FW spoke about his sufferings last week. Please notice the pattern… Davidic Pattern #1: The path toward kingship was marked by suffering. The humble servant had to suffer first before he was exalted as king. When David actually became King, God gradually brought all the fighting factions and opposing nations into submission to David’s reign. Davidic Pattern #2: When established as king, God brought remaining factions and enemies into subjection to God’s chosen king (cf 2 Sam 5:9–12). Notice this passage 2 Sam 5:10David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.11Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David.12And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. David as a musician recorded songs about these experiences in the Psalms And Then Jesus says in Luke 24:44 Luke 24:44  44Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem…50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. There are two observations about this passage that I want to make. First, Notice how Jesus said all that is written in the Psalms must be fulfilled—Hence we have these “messianic psalms Second, Notice this pattern Jesus Christ, Pattern#3: God’s Chosen King suffered and then was delivered from the grave and then was “carried up into heaven.” In the comparison to David what does this pattern correspond to? ANSWER: David’s exaltation as King and God working to bring all face to face with the reality of Christ’s kingship. God working to subject all people to his kingship. With that back ground let’s read now Psalm 110 Psalm 110 (Notes only)       1    The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”       2    The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”       3    Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.       4    The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”       5    The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.       6    He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.       7    He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head. Today from Psalm 110 we are discussing Facing the Reality of God’s Choice of Christ Alone Five realities about Jesus Christ that we must all come face to face with sooner or later. The first reality is this… God Has Made Christ Alone King of Creation—“Sit at My Right Hand.” Friends the NT recognizes Psalms 110 as one of the most significant chapters in the OT. Every human author of the NT quotes some portion of Psalm 110 except James and Jude. I have listed several of these references for you…. “At God’s right hand”—Matt 22:44, Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, 7:55-56, Rom 8:34, Eph 1:20, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3, 8:1, 12:2–3, 1 Pet 3:22, Rev 3:21 Here is just one example: Eph 1:20 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. We focus a lot on the resurrection of Jesus Chris and rightly so. The resurrection represents so much Victory over Death The first fruits of the promise of eternal life—a resurrected body God’s stamp of approval on His Son for His life and His Sacrifice However, the entire NT is not only structured around the resurrection but the truth from this PSALM—sit at my right hand--the ascension of Christ into heaven! That is amazing. Until I studied this Psalm and the numerous quotes of this Psalm in the NT I had no idea of how much this concept of Christ being translated from earth to heaven informed the theology of the NT. Read the cross references I gave you and see how significant this is!!!.  But what is so significant about “the Right Hand of God” What does this mean? The right hand of God means “The Right Hand of God” is the place of eternal rulership Earthly Kings invited a cherished and faithful servant to be their right hand man to execute their rule. As an example, those of you who know the Bible remember the Joseph story and how Joseph after suffering was exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh. Joseph in all practical senses was ruler over Egypt— equal to Pharaoh! David after suffering was exalted to the earthly kingdom of Israel and could be said to be “God’s right hand man on earth.” But David did not ascend bodily to heaven In Christ you have something entirely greater The Man Jesus ascended bodily to heaven not just a throne on earth…God’s heavenly throne. What does this mean…God has place Jesus Christ at the place of authority over all including you. The ascension of Christ is as significant to the Lordship of Christ as is His death and resurrection is to His Role as Savior. He is both Lord/King and Savior! My friends that is the reality…Christ simply is King. You simply are not the king. This is the reality. This is the reality that you must face either now or when God His Father, makes you a footstool for King Jesus’ feet. But Here is a question for you… But how could any man share God’s ruling throne? Jesus Christ was not simply “any man”—“The Lord said to my Lord” (cf. Matt 22:41–45) I think God has a sense of humor. He planted riddles and mysteries in the OT that would perplex people only to be revealed at the right time. I have had the privilege of attending Faith Bible Seminary and Pastor Aucoin was always so excited to point out these mysteries and riddles.  As I was discussing this passage with him in preparation for this sermon, I was reminded of that excitement he has for these Old Testament mysteries, as we talked about this phrase. David wrote the beginning line of the Psalm, “The Lord said to my Lord…dwell at my right hand.” What does, “The Lord said to my Lord” mean? Is David calling himself “my lord”—that would be a strange way for David to speak about Himself. So for years the Jewish folks interpret this phrase as applying to a descendent of David….rightfully so….the coming Messiah…. But the Jewish folks completely missed something…If this applies to David’s descendent…David call’s his descendent “MY LORD”  MY MASTER///MY KING…  How could the Messiah both be David’s Son and David’s master? How? Jesus stumped the Pharisees with this question… Matthew 22:41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:42 “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.”43 He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet” ’? 45“If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”46 No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. How is a man sitting at the right Hand of God? Because Jesus Christ is not simply a man…He is God incarnate. In order to ascend to be at the right hand of God he had to first descend to become human. This man is King.  This Man is God Himself.  Christ is King.  Christ is God Himself. Is he your King? The second reality we must face is that God Has Promised Christ Alone A Kingdom Ps. 110:2The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Folks is this the reality we live in… God does not say he will stretch forth Johnny’s kingdom saying “rule”? God does not say he will stretch forth (Pastor Garner, Folden, Green)’s kingdom saying “rule”? God will stretch forth Christ strong scepter ALONE saying rule. My friends do you remember a time in your life where you began to recognize this life is simply not about building your kingdom.       What are you doing with your life?       As I said the most routine aspect of our life is building             our kingdoms Our kingdoms of people who adore us Our kingdoms of accomplishments Our kingdoms of wealth Our kingdoms of influence       Psalm 110 brings us face to face that God has promised Christ Alone a Kingdom. Let that reality sink in a bit as you evaluate your life’s efforts…what are you working for….? Think about the summer that is coming up.  What are you going to do this summer?  Is it going to be all about you and your kingdom?  Is it about the number of hours you get to spend the pool? Is it about the number of lemonades you can consume on your back porch? Is it about the number of dandelions you eliminate from your yard? Is it about how many levels you can advance in the newest video game or the number of Netflix binges you can consume?       Why not make this summer about advancing the King that has already been exalted? Spread the great news of Christ, the exalted King, by helping to share the Gospel to kids from our community by serving in VBS. Spread the great news of Christ, the exalted King, by showing up to the Community Picnic and intentionally engaging with people from our community. Spread the great news of Christ, the exalted King, by getting involved in any of the number of serving opportunities in our community this summer. God Has Promised Christ Alone a People/Army for His Kingdom       Ps. 110:3Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The King has a Kingdom And, And What else does the King have?   an Army In the Hebrew there are simply two Hebrew words “Your people” is one Hebrew word, and then the second word is the Hebrew word for “freewill offering” Your people, a free will offering The people of this Kingdom are Willing Volunteers Why would you sign up to be a subject in anyone’s Kingdom? In the OT God warned Israel about wanting a king like the other nations in that they would force the people to become slaves.  The king would force the people to serve in the army. But this is remarkable…there is something about this king and his kingdom that people say….”Sign me up…” Why would that be? Because there is something good about this King and His Kingdom. Service for this King is not like slavery to my previous masters Service for this king is freeing… Friends have you come face to face with the reality of the tyranny of the kingdom of self and sin…and how there is a much better king and kingdom that you can join? The slavery to sin and self is never fully satisfying.  – You will always be searching for just a bit more happiness.  You will always find yourself to be a horrible king in your life. You will always find your kingdom to be lacking. The mark of the armies of Christ is that they are willfully following Him. You will find no other Master you will love to serve.   The King’s people are also…. Dressed in Righteousness (Holy Majesty/womb of dawn. Cf Rev 19:11–16) Your people are in “holy array” and “from the womb of dawn” Now, remember one thing about Hebrew poetry… Hebrew poetry uses a lot of metaphors and you have got to attempt to picture what the author is trying to communicate. Womb of dawn? What does that mean? Obviously, a womb is something that gives birth (we really do not have time to expand on that concept any more than that) In this case it is the womb of Dawn So what comes out of the “birthing canal” of dawn? Light! “Holy Array” also communicates that the King’s People are Brilliant in appearance. And the term “Your Youth like dew”—may also communicate the concept of purity Folks I believe also that Revelation 19 about the coming of the King and His People refers to this passage as well with very similar imagery. Notice God’s people are clothed in Brilliance…They are not cowering in the shame of nakedness. Notice the similarity here in Rev 19. Rev 19:11And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.16And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” The King’s People are viewed as pure!!! In the revelation passage the people of the king are in white brilliant clothing But what is the King clothed in?  Robe dipped in blood! In God’s eyes the King’s people are viewed as pure…..But the King is soaked in blood…What’s going on here? Furthermore, the King is at the right hand of God and the people are with the king So, 1. How could any person with all of our impurities be there with the King and 2. viewed as pure? How is that possible? Because of this fourth reality… God Has Made Christ Alone the Only Way to Be Part of His Kingdom—Christ Is Not Only a King But a Priest! (cf. Gen 14, Hebrews 5-9)       Psalm 110:4The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” Well now, isn’t this an obscure statement Order of Melchizedek?  What is this?  J It sounds like something you would order at a fast food restaurant….”I will take the Melchizedek meal with a large Coke Zero.” Melchizedek was the King of Jerusalem 1000 years before David became King of Jerusalem. You can briefly read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14. The significance of Melchizedek was that he is described in Gen 14 as both a priest and a king. Now, God had not allowed any of his earthly rulers to be both priests and kings. Do you know why? What does power do? Corrupt. And what does absolute power do—corrupt absolutely. Can you imagine a monarch with absolute power that controlled all aspects of the nation including down to what all the subjects had to believe and access to God. So, God made the first separation of powers long before the American government.  In Israel, God separated the King’s power of rulership from the priests’ role of providing access to God. Those kings in Israel who crossed the line into priestly duties—men like Saul and Uzziah—were severely judged by God. But here when God says of Jesus YOU ARE THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK….that means that the Messiah would be the only King who is both King and Priest. And Praise the Lord for you because that means this King and only this King gets you access to God Not because he sacrificed some animals for you but he sacrificed His body for you He is wearing the blood soak robes so that you can stand with him with God in white garments. Hebrews 7:21 but He (God) with an oath through the One who said to Him,“The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’ ”);22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;         27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Jesus Christ is sitting right now at the right hand of the Father as 1. king but not just king….as a 2. priest. And notice that there is a time frame on this….in verse 1—until the God makes the enemies of the King/priest His footstool. Since Christ ascended until this very moment, you have the opportunity to come face to face with the reality of this King as your Savior because of his priestly work. And   And you have the opportunity to learn now how to grow into the pure white clothing All of this is until—God brings everything in subjection to him and face to face with what happens if we do not subject our self to this king… God Will Destroy Opposition to Christ Alone (vv. 5–6)       5    The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.       6    He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. The king will return to earth as He ascended from it and God the father will be at his right hand executing the wrath of God. And judge those who did not come face to face with the King, His Kingdom, and His priesthood for them. Here is the reality today…. You will either be part of the army of the king dressed in brilliant clothing (the righteousness of Christ). Or you will be facing the wrath of the Father My friends, this is inescapable. This is the reality But right now the King is sitting until that time when he gets on the war horse. You today, may say I don’t want anything to do with that kind of a violent king. Let me end today with the last phrase of the Psalm…       7    He will drink from the brook (river/torrent/flood) by (on) the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head. The phrase “He will drink from the brook by the wayside… Has perplexed the commentators. There is not agreement about what that phrase means. However, some believe it is a reference to the cup that Christ drank at the cross. Do you remember the night before Christ was to experience the violent judgement that we deserved Christ compared it to a drink. He said, “Lord, if it be your will let me not drink this cup (of wrath) but not my will but yours be done.” Thus, the phrase might be better translated and could be translated, He will drink from the torrent on the way. My friend, if you never face reality of Christ being King, with a Kingdom and a People and one day you come face to face with the reality of violent judgment of the Warrior King it will only be because you did not accept the reality today that the priestly king took the violent judgment upon Himself that you deserved. So whose Kingdom will you pursue? Your own empty kingdom? Or the Kingdom of Christ alone? Let’s Pray.

UNIVERSITY OF EXCELLENCEWWW.UOFE.ORG Prince HandleyPresident / Regent KEY TO YOUR NEXT TRANSITION Transitions in life: Ministry, Family, Employment, Economy, Geography You can listen to this message NOW.Click on the pod circle at top left. (Allow images to display.) Or, Listen Here Email this message to a friend. Subscribe to this Ezine teaching by Email: princehandley@gmail.com(Type “Subscribe” in the “Subject” line.) 24/7 release of Prince Handley teachings, BLOGS and podcasts > STREAM Text: “follow princehandley” to 40404 (in USA)Or, Twitter: princehandley _________________________________ KEY TO YOUR NEXT TRANSITION Transitions in life: Ministry, Family, Employment, Economy, Geography After 40 years of wilderness wandering, the people of Israel - the believers under Joshua - were ready to pass over the Jordan into the Promised Land. They had NOT passed that way before. Therefore, they let the Ark of the Covenant lead them about 2,000 cubits, as they were commanded by Joshua. [Joshua 3:4] By following the presence of the LORD they would know which way to go. You are NOT to jump ahead of the LORD but to honor His holiness, just as the people honored the sacredness of the Ark. Let God lead you . . . and then follow Him in faith. Then you can pass over and make the transition to the Promised Land: the completion of the Holy Spirit goals you have prayed for so long! He understands when you're not sure; but He also understands when you don't obey. Notice that after they crossed over, the people of Israel came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. God chose that day . . . just as He chooses the days of your deliverance and transition . . . if you follow Him and honor His holiness! Every detail, including the exact nanosecond of your MIRACLES, are known by God, prepared by God, and depend upon your obedience in following His commands in faith! IF you are a believer and follower of Messiah Yeshua, every deliverance, every healing, and every transition in your life … even your employment or unemployment … is rooted in the Passover: the shed BLOOD of the Lamb of God. Plead THE BLOOD, rely on THE BLOOD, when the Spirit is leading you in NEW transitions. Your victory is contained in and assured by THE BLOOD! That first day in the Promised Land, after passing over the Jordan River, was the fulfillment of God's promise . . . and also the day when the lamb was selected (Joshua 4:19) for the Passover which would be four days later: the tenth day of the first month [March-April, the month of Nisan, also called Abib - see Exodus Chapter 12]. "Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho." [Joshua 5:10] They ate the produce of the land on the next day, unleavened bread and parched grain. The next day the manna ceased. Notice: God always provides the NEW provision of the NEW transition before He cuts off the OLD provision. He is a good Father! Don't worry . . . just follow His holy presence as he leads you. Sometimes we are so concerned with the minors that we're missing the majors! Forget the details and follow God. He Who leads you into the NEW transition will also lead you into the intricacies of the details. Just MOVE, implement, and take care of the refinements later. Obey God! Like the monkey holding on to the banana in the jar who couldn't get his hand out to enjoy the banana, so many people are "holding on" to their ministries that they cannot be released for NEW transition into greater service and works for the glory of the LORD, and for their blessing as well. God knows exactly where you are at this time in your journey with Him. And so do you! Do you want to go on to conquer and attain those Holy Spirit goals you have prayed and fasted for so long? Then listen carefully to Him. Are you willing to make the transition from your comfort zone to a blessed place where millions - possibly billions - of people will be blessed by your life and ministry? Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai. Your friend, Prince HandleyPresident / RegentUniversity of Excellence Podcast time: 7 minutes, 14 seconds. P.S. - Don't forget to tell your friends about the Prince Handley podcast. _______________ 24/7 Prince Handley BLOGS, teachings, and podcastsClick the Dove above_______________World ServicesBox ADowney, California 90241 USA University of Excellence www.uofe.orgPrince Handley Portal www.princehandley.com Subscribe to The Healing and Miracle Podcast here: SUBSCRIBESubscribe to The Voice of Israel Podcast here: SUBSCRIBEHealing and Miracle Podcast: www.healing.libsyn.comVoice of Israel Podcast: www.podcastsatellite.libsyn.comRabbinical Studies: www.realmiracles.com/rabbinical.htmIsrael News and Prophecy: www.podcastsatellite.comIf you need healing, deliverance, or prayer, email to: princehandley@gmail.com

APOSTLE TALK  -  Future News Now!WWW.REALMIRACLES.COMwith Prince Handley THE PLAN OF VICTORY You can listen to this message NOW.Click on the LibSyn pod circle (top left). Give it 20 seconds to load.Listen NOW or download for later. For INSTANT REPLAY, go to: www.blubrry.com/prophecy/ After you listen to this message, you can scroll down for all messagespreviously in the Archives (with Show Notes). RSS PODCAST 24/7 release of Prince Handley blogs, teachings, and podcasts >>> STREAM <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </span></span> THE PLAN OF VICTORY INTRO/ MUSICThe simple things are usually the powerful things. And so it is in the plan of God which He gives you for victory. Be willing and obey is the admonition of the prophet Isaiah:"If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20)The beautiful purpose of this . . . and the LOVE of God . . . is shown in the previous verse:"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool." (Verse 18)Israel's unbelief (except for Caleb and Joshua) that they could take the Promised Land resulted in 40 years of wilderness wandering. Have you been wandering long?Do you have great Spirit given goals that have been in you heart and prayers for years but have not come to fruition yet? Is it because you have failed to GO into the Promised Land . . . to make that transition in FAITH? Have you been waiting for everything to fall into place before you leave your comfort zone?Like the monkey holding on to the banana in the jar, who couldn't get his hand out to enjoy the banana, are you "holding on" to your ministry . . . your business . . . your toys . . . not releasing them . . . so that you can make a NEW transition into greater service and works for the glory of God, and for your blessing as well? MUSICRULE #1: UNBELIEF WILL KEEP YOU FROM YOUR TRANSITION!When the children of Israel were about to attack Jericho, Joshua, with the direction of the LORD, commanded the people, "You shall NOT shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of our mouth, until the day I say unto you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." (Joshua 6:10) They were commanded to keep silence for seven days. RULE #2: AT THE ONSET OF GREAT WORKS FOR GOD, DON'T TALK MUCH . . . AND … ABOVE ALL, DO NOT SPEAK WORDS OF FEAR AND UNBELIEF!The spoils of Jericho were like the first fruits of harvest. It was the first city they conquered in the Promised Land: their first stage of the victory promised. And God commanded them NOT to keep the spoils of the city for themselves. "And you, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: the shall come into the treasury of the LORD." (Joshua 6:18-19)The Hebrew root for the word "accursed" is "cherem" and it ALSO means the "devoted thing" or a "dedicated thing" depending upon the context. In other words, what is devoted or dedicated to God is accursed to man. If you keep back or steal God's property, then YOU become accursed. (Hebrew "charam"). MUSICGod's people were promised success, but only if they walked in obedience!RULE #3: WHAT IS DEVOTED TO GOD IS ACCURSED TO MAN!A man named Achan did not obey and he took of the accursed things which were devoted to God, so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. By the way, the Hebrew word ‛Akan is from an unused root meaning “to trouble,” or “troublesome.” The LORD told Joshua that the man had stolen and deceived and put it among his own stuff. The LORD said, "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." (Joshua 7:13)Then the man, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had (including what he stolen that belonged to God) were burned with fire after the people of Israel stoned them with stones according to the command of the LORD.This reminds us of Ananias and Sapphira who sold an estate, and kept back part of the proceeds, pretending to give ALL of it to the treasury of the church. They lied to the Holy Spirit and both of them died within three hours of each other. (Acts 5:1-11) MUSICRULE #4: NEVER LIE TO THE THE HOLY SPIRIT (RUACH HA CHODESH)!These two examples above also remind us of God's promise in the book of Malachi."Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In titles and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation." (Malachi 3:8-9) Notice again, the beautiful purpose of this . . . and the LOVE of God . . . is shown in the following verses 10-11::"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, and PROVE ME now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.""And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field ..." says the LORD of hosts. NOTICE: God says you can PROVE Him . . . you can find out FOR SURE . . . God is Who He says He is: the great “I AM” . . . by paying Him tithes and giving Him offerings!RULE #5: IF YOU ARE WILLING & OBEDIENT - YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD'S PLAN OF VICTORY! The whole rest of your life you will be blessed as you follow what I have taught you from God's Holy Word today. Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai. Your friend,Prince Handley MUSIC Podcast time: 10 minutes, 55 seconds Subscribe to The Apostles Advanced Teaching (this newsletter) by email: apostlehandley@gmail.com  (type "SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line). For foreign language versions of The Apostles Daily Message, go to: www.apostlehandley.wordpress.com Prince Handley Ministry Portal: www.princehandley.com SKYPE: prince.handley Follow Prince Handley on Twitter Subscribe to The Healing and Miracle Podcast here:  SUBSCRIBE   Subscribe to Apostle Talk Podcast here: SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Voice of Israel Podcast here: SUBSCRIBE FREE online New Testament Bible Studies, email to: worldservicesinc@gmail.com For FREE literature to distribute (tell us what language you need), write to:      WORLD SERVICES      P.O. 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I. Introduction I remember well my first attempt at rappelling. Rock climbers use ropes to scale rocky cliffs and go back down them. I had never done it before. It was my first week at college, where you do all kinds of insane and crazy things. And so, there I was on the fifth floor of a town house on Beacon Street in Boston, on the wrong side of the fire escape. And I had the rappelling rope in my left hand and a harness around my body, and my right hand was holding firmly onto the fire escape. I knew my hand, but I didn't know anything about this rope. I knew what my hand could do, but did I dare let go with my right hand and trust that rope? Well, I did, and it worked, and so I stand before you today. I survived, and I never did it again. I didn't really see the point. There was no great thrill in bouncing down the side of that brick house and making it down, except getting that harness off and saying, "I'll never do this again!" Now, others may enjoy doing that kind of thing. More power to them. But I want to focus on that moment. I remember it well. When I looked at my right hand, I had to kind of tell it to let go, and it didn't want to. It seemed to know better than I did. "I'm saving your life, you don't want me to let go!" But it is a spiritual principle too. We know what we can do, and we are accustomed to trusting in ourselves. But this scripture today that we are looking at commands us to trust in Christ, to look away from what we can do, what schemes and plots and arrangements we can make to get ourselves out of whatever situations we find ourselves in, and to trust in Christ alone. And it is so hard for us to do it, to live by faith, not by sight, to learn how to rely on God who is invisible, to trust in the certainty of his promises, to look away from what we can achieve and to trust in him. I think this is one of the biggest questions that we face in our lives. On what or on whom are you really trusting? What are you relying on? What is the truest source of confidence for your own life? Now most of the time, I think, in everyday life this question doesn't really come up. You're not asking intensely as you pour milk on your cereal in the morning, "Now, what am I relying on at this moment? Can I do it?" Or when your cell phone rings and you pull it out, "Do I have the power with which to answer this call?" Everyday life can just lure you into a sense of false security. You get behind the wheel, you turn on the ignition and you think, "I've done this before. I've driven many times to church, I can handle it." And so you don't really pray, you don't really think much about Christ at that moment and so you just go about your business. But this is a grave misunderstanding of how totally and constantly we should be depending and relying on Christ, on Christ alone. It is a devastating state to be in spiritually, to rely on yourself. It will damn the soul. Because we cannot save ourselves and we must be trained to look away from what we can achieve and look instead to Christ and to him alone. And so, as we come to Isaiah seven, the central lesson of Isaiah seven, I believe is, “Stop trusting in yourself and the alliances you can make in your own strength, and rely on Immanuel. Rely on God alone, who is with us." Now, as we come to this passage, Judah is facing a crisis. The little kingdom of Judah is led by a faithless king. And this faithless king, Ahaz, a descendant of king David, is the very man whom God confronts with this promise: “God with us.” God wants to entrust the sign of Immanuel to him and Ahaz doesn't want any part of it. II. Crisis Reveals True Faith (verses 1-2) Ahaz: David’s Faithless Descendant We need to understand the geopolitical context of Isaiah 7 to get its full richness. That's the challenge before me today, because you think about the history, what was going on, who are these names that were read for us? Pekah son of Remaliah, and the son of Tabeel, and Aram and Ephraim - who are all these and what does it have to do with anything? But this is the crisis that was revealing the true faith of Ahaz, I would have to say, his lack of faith in almighty God. As we come to Ahaz, we come to a descendant of David, grandson of Uzziah. He is the king of the southern kingdom of Judah. Now, remember your history. Because of his wickedness, because of his idolatry, Solomon’s heart had turned away from God. And God had decided to judge him, not in his lifetime, but that his son would lose ten tribes. And those ten tribes became the northern kingdom of Israel. The house of David was left with one tribe, Judah, the southern kingdom. And the northern kingdom Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah were for the most part bitter enemies from that point forward. And so Israel was the northern kingdom, and Judah the southern kingdom. Aram, Edom, Moab - these were all little kingdoms or little countries in the ancient near east in Palestine that jockeyed for position. At times some would be a little bit more powerful than the other, etcetera, similar perhaps to the small nations of Serbia and Belgium in pre-World War I days. But then there were the big empires, the big rulers like in pre-World War I days when you had Russia, you had the Austria Hungarian empire, you had Germany and Britain. So in those days, you had Assyria. Assyria was the big monster swimming in that small pool, the superpower of the ancient near east - violent, ruthless and brutal. Called the Nazis of the ancient world, Assyria was poised to gobble up all these minor nations like a lion devouring scraps of meat. That is the context. Now this man Ahaz was Uzziah's grandson, but he had none of Uzziah's piety, none of Uzziah's love for the Lord. 2 King 16:3-4 says Ahaz “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.” And so God gave him over. Because of his sins, God gave him over to his enemies. There is a plain connection between the king's false religion and his defeat by both Israel and Aram on the battlefields. The story is told in 2 Chronicles 28:5-6. Because of Ahaz's sins, “therefore the Lord his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him. In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah - because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers." Sadly, however, Ahaz did not learn the lesson. He was of the pragmatic school of religion - what works is what we need to follow. And he followed the “if you can't beat them, join them” approach. So in 2 Chronicles 28:23 it says, “He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, 'Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.' But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.” The Crisis: A Scary Alliance So that's the context. The immediate context in the issue of Isaiah 7 is a scary alliance. That is the crisis. Two of these little kingdoms have agreed to join together in alliance against little Judah, and the odds are overwhelming. If Judah can't stand up against one of them, how is Judah going to survive against both of them allied together? And so, look at Isaiah 7:5,6. “Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, ‘Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.’” This is the plot. This is what's going on. Fluttering Like a Leaf It is a dire situation for Ahaz and for the people of Judah. And as a result in verse two their hearts are fluttering like a leaf. “So the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” The crises of our lives reveal true character. Even more significantly, they reveal what we are truly trusting in. And so God brings us through crises sometimes to show us our faith, what we really trust in, and perhaps to show us what we are not trusting in and how we should be trusting in Christ more. These people, including Ahaz, had no solid foundation in the sovereignty of God. They had nowhere to turn, and so they were terrified, fluttering like leaf. III. The Sovereign Lord Intervenes, Promises and Warns (verses 3-9) The Sovereign Lord Intervenes And so the sovereign Lord intervenes. He steps in. Our God doesn't stand passively on the sidelines of history. That's not the God of the Bible. He is not an idler. He is not rooting and hoping for a proper outcome, powerless to do anything about it. No, he steps in and brings it about. He accomplishes what he decides. He is sovereign in deciding what will happen on the stage of history. He moves his little finger and the nations convulse. This is our God. And so, he begins with a quiet word from the prophet to the king. His real desire, the real focus of God, is the hearts of his people. What is going on in your heart? Do you trust or do you not? That's what it is all about. And so he is moving so that his people will learn to trust him, even in the midst of that kind of a crisis. He sends Isaiah the prophet. So Isaiah goes out to confront Ahaz as he is making preparations for battle. Look at verse three. “Then the Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's field.’” So he is out there, making preparations, perhaps getting some water ready for a siege. He is out there, and Isaiah goes to confront him, to deal with him. God’s Command: Don’t Be Afraid… Only Believe And God gives Ahaz and the people of Judah a command. He says, “Don't be afraid, only believe.” Look at verse four. “Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood - because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.” So he gives them a command. So often Jesus does the same thing with his own disciples. In the midst of the storm, he rebukes them and said, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:26). So, often we get afraid of the future, and we should be trusting in God. Faith drives out fear and makes us strong and courageous. And so, God gives a command, and he says, “Don't be afraid, only believe.” God’s Promise: The Secret Plans of Man Will Fail And he gives them a promise as well: “The secret plans of man will fail.” Look at verses five through seven. "Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, 'Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.' Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'It will not take place, it will not happen.'" That, my friends, is the final word on that. When God speaks like that, who can turn aside his will? His hand is stretched out and who is able to turn it back? He's made a decision in this matter and this will not take place. It's a promise. The secret purposes of man will not prevail. “Man Proposes, God Disposes” You've heard the saying, "Man proposes but God disposes." God makes the final decision. Oh, many verses teach this. Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Others teach plainly God's sovereign authority over the rise and fall of nations. Daniel 4:17, "The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men." Some verses even discuss directly the plots and plans and schemes and lies that political leaders make, even to one another, sitting at a conference table, and say God's sovereign plan will overrule all of that. Read Daniel 11. Well, here God decrees failure for this alliance. It will not take place. It will not happen. And here faith must find its resting place in the sovereign power of God. He decrees what will and will not happen. And in that we find our sure security, our stable resting point. Tragically, however, Ahaz will not listen. He is not going to listen. Instead, he is going to flee willingly into the arms of the monster Assyria. He is going to turn away from a loving God and he is going to embrace Assyria to save him. Now Judah's enemies are merely human. How many times does it say, "The head of this country is only so and so. The head of that country is only so and so." They're only men. They are nothing. Within sixty-five years, Ephraim will be too shattered to even to be a people. Who is speaking these words? Later in the book of Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 22 and following, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. 'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One." "The head of such and such country is only so and so, but I, I sit enthroned above the circle of the Earth, and all the nations are like grasshoppers before me. Who do you fear?" The Warning: Grave Danger for Unbelief And therefore he gives Ahaz, and through him Judah and all of us a warning: "Grave danger for unbelief." Look at verse nine. To me, this is the center of this whole chapter. I know the promise of Immanuel is wonderful. We will talk about it. But the lesson that takes in the whole picture of Isaiah 7 is this one verse, verse nine, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” That is the warning that Isaiah gives to Ahaz. The greatest danger in the universe is unbelief in Almighty God, for this makes the sovereign Lord, who sits enthroned above the circle of the Earth, it makes him your enemy. And who can stand before him? Here I perceive also the same issue as the gospel itself. Romans 1:17, “The righteous will live by faith.” Those who refuse to believe in Christ will be destroyed, and they will be destroyed by the very things they trust in, as Ahaz was destroyed by the very nation he trusted in, Assyria. Unbelievers trust in false gods and false good works, and they will prove the greatest enemies of our souls on judgment day. IV. The Sovereign Lord Gives a Sign: Immanuel (vs. 10-17) Stooping to Our Weakness And so the sovereign Lord stoops to our weakness. He stoops to Ahaz's weakness, and he wants to give him a sign, the sign of Immanuel. It's amazing, isn't it? How sweetly patient our God is. How much he is willing to reach out. "All day long," He says, "I have held out my hands to an obstinate people” (Isaiah 65:2). This is God. And so he stoops to Ahaz's weakness, and he wants to give him a sign. He knows Ahaz's heart is terrified. He knows it is faithless. He wants to give him a sign to help him. And so Isaiah, on behalf of the Almighty God, hands Ahaz a blank check with God's signature and says, "Fill it in, any amount, anything you want, and I will do it." It's an astonishing statement here. "Ask the Lord your God," verse 11, "Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights, [anything, and I'll do it.]" And notice the language here, very hopeful. Speaking to Ahaz, "Ask the Lord your God, Ahaz.” “Your God” - that will change in a moment. But at this point, he has an invitation to trust in the God of his father David, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of power. And look at the graciousness of the command: "Ask for any sign." Remember one time during the period of the conquest, when Joshua was fighting, and he asked God for an extraordinary thing. He just wanted a little more time that day to finish off the battle. Do you remember that from Joshua 10:12-14? "On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: 'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. … The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!" Well, here Isaiah goes out on behalf of the sovereign Lord and says, "You can ask for anything. I'll even do that again if you want, so that you will know that God is still fighting for his people." Ahaz’s Transparent Hypocrisy But what does Ahaz do with this blank check? He crumples it up and throws it on the ground. And he does it with a transparent hypocrisy that is really quite shocking. "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test" (verse 12). Oh, that is really lousy. And that smells. I know he's quoting Deuteronomy and all that. And I know the Lord said this in terms of casting himself off the pinnacle of the temple and all that. “Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah” (Deuteronomy 6:16). But God had told him to do it! That’s the whole issue. If the Lord had commanded, if God had commanded Jesus to cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus would have done it without hesitation, knowing that God would send his angels to catch him. But God hadn't commanded Jesus to do that. The whole issue is what is God commanding? And here the sovereign Lord has commanded Ahaz, "Ask for a sign." And he says, "I won't do it." The fact is that God is really testing Ahaz. He wants Ahaz, he wants all of us to see what is in his heart. There is nothing there toward God. He doesn't want to ask God to give him a sign, because he doesn't want God to do the sign. He doesn't want anything to do with Yahweh. He doesn't want anything to do with a mighty, wonder working God. All he wants is to solve his problems his own way. He already knows what he is going to do. He is making preparations for the siege. He already knows what his plan is. We'll get to that in a moment. But Isaiah gives him a sharp reply from the Lord. Verse 13: “Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?’” Oh, that is significant. Notice he doesn't say your God here. The moment has passed. There is a moment, and it passes. There was an opportunity there for Ahaz, and he threw it on the ground. And so now it is my God. This is the decisive moment, I believe, in Ahaz's life. He refuses the grace and help that the Lord will give. Judah will be saved, but not by Ahaz. Not by Ahaz. The Sign: Immanuel And so, here comes the sign, verses 14 through 16, "The Lord Himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him, Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste." Alright, so Ahaz won't ask for a sign, the Lord will choose the sign. He is going to give a sign. This time it is of the Lord's choosing. And notice that the sign is given to the whole nation. The word is plural. It's not just to Ahaz singular. It's "to you, the Lord will give all of you a sign." And this sign is a word. It is a child who symbolizes the word "Immanuel" - God with us. Three Issues with the Sign Now there are three weighty issues with this verse, three significant issues we need to try to figure out. First and foremost, was there an immediate sign given in Ahaz's time? Did God do something for Ahaz in his generation? Second, does this verse teach the virgin birth? Third, what is the significance of the word, "Immanuel"? Three key questions here. Let's take the first. Was there an immediate sign given in Ahaz's time? Absolutely, yes, there was. The whole thing with Christian prophecy in the Old Testament is that of shadow and fulfillment. There is a reality that acts out an aspect of Christ's life, and then the perfect fulfillment is in Christ. And so, we have that again here. There was an Israelite young lady who was going to give birth to a son at that time, and they would give him the name "Immanuel." And that son, that boy, would be a sign and a symbol of something the Lord was going to do. This mysterious name, this word "Immanuel," is the essence of the sign. The boy, I believe, was just an ordinary boy. But he became somewhat like a time clock, measuring what God intended to do. And so, how long does it take for a young boy to know right from wrong? It says, "He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste." They are not even going to be an issue anymore. Well that's what - five or six years? In a very, very, very short time, it is going to be laid waste. And you are not going to be wondering anymore about those two kingdoms that are allied together against you. And so there's the sign. It's a time clock. In a very, very short time - you won't have to wait long - those two kingdoms will be destroyed. So yes, there was a sign immediately given in Ahaz's day. Secondly, does this verse teach the virgin birth? Now, that is problematic. I just said there would be a baby born. Born to a virgin? I think not. Why do I say that? I think that was utterly unique in all of redemptive history, the virgin birth. Never to be repeated. Never happened before. Now, we recognize that Mathew picked this verse as a prediction of the virgin birth. Mathew 1:22-23, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ - which means, ‘God with us.’” But the virgin birth is utterly unique in all of history. I can't imagine that a child born in Ahaz's day was born from a virgin. So Isaiah uses a word, "almah", a Hebrew word which always refers in the Old Testament to a virgin, but which does not emphasize specifically her virginity as another Hebrew word would have. I love Martin Luther's quote on this. Martin Luther offered one hundred guilders, one hundred gold coins to anyone who could show that the Hebrew word "almah" ever referred to a married woman. In characteristic fashion Luther said only God knew where he'd get the one hundred guilders if someone could meet his bet. “I don't have that kind of money, but I'm pretty confident on this one, that you'll never be able show me that this word refers to a married woman.” So I think this Hebrew word is admirably suited both for the immediate circumstances of Ahaz, and then for the future glorious fulfillment. I don't think anyone really could have understood until it happened that a virgin would literally be with child by the power of the sovereign God. What is the significance of the word "Immanuel"? Well, the word literally means “God with us.” Here in Ahaz's day, it meant that the true source of Judah's safety was the fact that Almighty God was protecting her. That is the source of Judah's true safety. Look over, if you would, just one chapter to Isaiah 8, perhaps right there on the same page, and look at verses nine and ten. “Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand.” Why? “For God is with us.” Do you see that? There's the protection. All you nations that mean us harm, just know this, you will lose. You go ahead and make your plans. Get yourself ready. It doesn't make a difference. Why? Because the sovereign God is on our side. We will find out later what he can do with one angel in one night - 185,000 troops. He can do anything. So the real safety and security for Judah is this: God is with us. No nation, no matter how mighty, can defeat God's people while God is fighting for them. And so Deuteronomy 32:9-11 says this: “For the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance… He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.” Oh, what a glorious picture! God as a powerful eagle protecting the little ones, and none can harm them because he is sovereign and powerful. That's what Immanuel means, the power of God to defeat all of our enemies. Now the deeper significance of Immanuel comes with the birth of Christ. More in a moment on that. V. False Faith Proves Ruinous: Assyria is Coming! (vs. 17-25) Both God and Ahaz Summon Assyria But then we see the false faith of Ahaz that proves ruinous. Assyria is coming. Assyria is coming, verses 17 through 25, and amazingly, both God and Ahaz are going to summon Assyria for very different purposes. Faithless Ahaz turns away from God to Assyria for help Despite the sweet promises of protection from the Lord, Ahaz turns away in faithless unbelief. He has no faith in the Lord. He must save himself, and so he makes a fatal alliance with Assyria. The tragic story is told fully in 2 Kings 16:7-9, "Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, 'I am your servant and your vassal.'" That should just make the hairs come up in the back of your neck. "I am your servant, O king of Assyria." I want to be a servant of the living God, don't you? I don't want to say that to anybody, “I am your servant.” Not in this sense. "I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” “Come up and save me," he says. "And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it." So there is a little boy Immanuel. Within a handful of years, the two kingdoms will be destroyed and laid waste. By whom? By Assyria. Assyria is going to come and lay them waste. And in honor of his new liege Lord, the king of Assyria, Ahaz changes the worship patterns of Judah. He sees an Assyrian altar there in Damascus and sends the plans for the altar back to be built according to that pattern. When he goes back and sees his replica altar, he offers sacrifices on it according to his own new religion, and he seeks guidance from it. He took things out of the temple of the Lord and sent them in honor to the king of Assyria. “But that did not help him” (2 Chronicles 28:21). He eventually shut the doors of the Lord's temple entirely and set up altars on every street corner in Jerusalem and worshipped false gods after the pagan pattern of Assyria. That's what he did. Wholesale defection. That's why I say the key moment is here in Isaiah 7, when God invites him and asks him to ask for a sign. This foolish act would eventually destroy most of Judah. And why? Because Assyria is coming. One commentator said, "It's like a little mouse fighting against two larger mice and summoning the cat to come help. And so the cat comes gladly and takes care of the two little mice. And what's left? The third little mouse. And Judah is going to get gobbled up too. God predicts and brings Assyria Now, I said both Ahaz and Almighty God summoned Assyria, but for very different reasons. Now he is going to use Assyria to search the hearts of his own people on this very issue: Who are you trusting? Are you going to trust God, or are you going to trust Assyria? So when they come (look at verses 17 through 20), “The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah - he will bring the king of Assyria. In that day the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River - the king of Assyria - to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also.” Notice God does not merely predict that Assyria will come. That's not what it says. No, he brings them. He is going to bring the king of Assyria. He is going to whistle, like the master of bees and flies, for them to come. He is going to hire a razor to come do the shaving. He is going to humiliate his people. He is going to bring them. And the bottom line is this: What you trust in, if not the Lord, will ultimately destroy you. Assyria came not to save, but to destroy. Isaiah 10:6 tells us the purpose of the Assyrians. "To seize loot, and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets." That's their motive. Now, I believe if Ahaz had trusted in the Lord, I don't know what would have happened, but I think Assyria would have come anyway to take care of the northern kingdom. They were done. He would have come to destroy Aram, but they would have stopped at the border and would not have entered in. They might have wanted to come in, but they are not getting in there, because the sovereign Lord would have protected that little kingdom of Judah, as he can do. That's just speculation, but I think that's what would have happened. But instead, Ahaz – Judah - reaches out to Assyria and God brings them. The final result is that the land will be destroyed. It will be a cursed land. Look at Verses 23 through 25. "In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns.” In that place where there was rich fruitfulness, there is going to be cursing. “Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.” That's cursed. Verse 25: “As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe [that's a blessed land], you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns [that's the curse]; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where the sheep run.” The land is going to be destroyed because of faithlessness, because they wouldn't trust in God. VI. The Immanuel Sign Fulfilled: Christ is Born Now, I want to focus on this sign, Immanuel, and its glorious fulfillment, Jesus Christ our Savior. The virgin birth - centuries later God remembered the sign that he had promised Ahaz. And Mary, the mother of Jesus, was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is clear and given a clear testimony in Luke 1 and Matthew 1. After Mary was told by the angel what would happen to her, she yearned to understand. Luke 1:34-35, “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” But it is Matthew who links this event back to this prophecy and focuses on the word “Immanuel”. “An angel of the Lord appeared to him [Joseph] in a dream” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph was resolving to divorce Mary. He had trouble believing, as any of us would, that this virgin was really a virgin with child. It had never happened before. And so being a just man, he resolved to divorce her quietly. “But… an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ - which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:20,21). “God with us” – a literal fulfillment - Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. “The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us, and we have beheld his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Hebrews 2:14, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity." He is God with us as a human being. More than that, however, sweetly more than that, he is God on our side, God who has come to save us, God who has come to deliver us, God for us. Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” “Who cares who's against us?” My translation. Well, not a translation, just a few extra things. We'll just preach on that. "Who cares who's against us?!” Assyria, Satan, the world and the flesh, it doesn't matter. If God is for us, who could be against us? God for us and God with us - through everything we're going through. As he says in Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.” “When you pass through the rivers, I will be with you. When you walk through the fire, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). Forever he is with us. God walking alongside us in temptation. He was tempted in every way just as we are, yet he was without sin. Let's go to him then that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. God is with us in the midst of suffering. We endure, knowing that Jesus suffered more than any of us ever could or ever will on the cross. He knows suffering. Go to him as you are suffering. He is God with us. He is God with us in the trial of death. "He tasted death for everyone," it says in Hebrews 2:9. He is also God with us in all of the work he gives us to do. Remember how, through the flames of the burning bush, God sent Moses to Pharaoh? And he said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" (Exodus 3:11). And what did the Lord say? "I will be with you." "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). And so he has entrusted to us the work of reconciliation for the whole world. To the church he has entrusted to us that we should “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19,20). But what does he say after that? “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God with us in everything he has commanded us to do. He will never leave us and never forsake us. The True Deliverance And God with us to deliver us from the true danger. It's not the Assyrians. It's not the Arameans. It's not Israel. It's none of that. The true deliverance is from sin and death and hell. Hallelujah! He has come to deliver us from those enemies, and so he drank the cup of God's wrath. He drank hell in on the cross. He suffered hell for us so that we could be delivered. “And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night” (Revelation 4:11). That's the real deliverance we need. We need to be delivered from hell. We need to be delivered from judgement and from wrath. And we deserve it. We know it. The Final Fulfillment: Eternally with God But Jesus has come to deliver us from what we truly deserve by giving us a free gift. And the final fulfillment of God with us is heaven itself. Heaven itself. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3). That's God with us friends. "Father," he says in John 17:24, “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory.” And so the final fulfillment of Immanuel is Revelation 21:2,3. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men.’” God with men. That's Immanuel. “And he will live with them, [Immanuel], "they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, [that's Immanuel], "and [he will] be their God.” That is the fulfillment of the promise of Isaiah 7:14. Eternity in Heaven in face to face fellowship with Almighty God. VII. Central Lesson: In What Are You Trusting? How Do You React During Trials? So what is the central lesson of Isaiah 7? This is: What are you trusting in? What do your trials show you that you are trusting in? How do you react when you get bad news? Whether it's financial, or medical, relational, spiritual - when you get bad news and your heart is laid bare what are you really trusting in? Is your heart fluttering like a leaf when you get some bad news? Or are you rock solid knowing there is a God who sovereignly overrules your life and nothing can touch you except what is passed through his wise and loving hands. Which is it? Are you stable or are you fluttering? Christ is saying, "Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart" (Isaiah 7:4). Even More Poignantly, What About Your Soul?? Even more poignantly he says to all of us, to the human race, “There is an earthquake coming far greater than any we've seen in the current events. It is going to shake what you built. It is going to shake everything. Once more he will return and shake the earth. And if you do not stand by faith on that day, you will not stand at all.” Romans 1:16-17 puts it this way, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” I appreciated singing “Come Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy.” Oh, is that powerful! Wasn't that powerful? I wanted there to be twenty more verses. I guess then I wouldn’t be preaching now. But that's fine. We'd still be singing. But that's fine. Oh the rich theology. The rich, rich theology. And one of the verses said this, Lo, the incarnate God, ascended, Pleads the merit of his blood: Venture on Him, venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude! Oh, is that potent. Venture out like you're on the seventh floor of a burning high rise and a hook and ladder has come to save your life. Don't hesitate. Go. Venture forth and don't look for anything else to save you. “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must saved” (Acts 4:12). It's Jesus alone. Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. And it says, “Let no other trust intrude! Yesterday, I had the privilege of performing a wedding for Jim and Claire Ewell. And standing right here at the very end of the ceremony, I gave them permission, actually kind of a command. “You may kiss the bride.” I think he was eager to do it. And so he stepped forward and he embraced his bride and kissed her. A public display of affection right here in church. He gave her a big kiss. But at that moment of marital embrace, there was not a man or woman or child on the face of the earth who would have been welcome to join them. No one. I was closest to them. I wasn't tempted. That was their moment. That's a picture of the soul in Christ. Let no other trust intrude. He is the lover of your soul. He is the only one who can save you. Nothing else has a right to intrude on the embrace of your soul and your savior Jesus Christ. Close with me in prayer.